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COPYRIGHT DEPOSn. 



The National 
Standard Squab Book 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 withjunding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/nationalstandard04rice 







ELMER C. RICE. 



The National 
Standard Squab Book 



By Elmer C. Rice 



A PRACTICAL MANUAL GIVING 
COMPLETE AND PRECISE DIREC- 
TIONS FOR THE INSTALLATION 
AND MANAGEMENT OF A SUC- 
CESSFUL SQUAB PLANT. FACTS 
FROM EXPERIENCES OF MANY 

HOW TO MAKE A PIGEON AND SQUAB 
BUSINESS PAY, DETAILS OF BUILDING, 
BUYING, HABITS OF BIRDS, MATING, 
WATERING, FEEDING, KILLING, COOL- 
ING, MARKETING, SHIPPING, CURING 
AILMENTS, AND OTHER INFORMATION 



Illustrated with New Sketches and Half Tone Plates 

from Photographs Specially Made 

for this Work 



BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 
1907 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 

Two Copies Received 

FEB I 190r 

yflUSS, A '^c,, No. 

J copy's. 



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Copyright' 1901, by Elmer C. Rice 
Copyright, 1902, by Elmer C,. Rice 
Copyright, 1903, by E.mer Q.- Rice 
Copyright, 198<^, bv Elifter C Rice 
Copyright, 1905V"by Elmer C. Rice 
Copyright, 1906, by Elmer C. Rice 
Copyright, 1907, by Elmer C. Rice 

All rights reserved. 




A WELL-BUILT NEST. 



Press of 

Murray and Emery Company 

Boston, Mass. 







CONTENTS. 


Page 


Preface , 






. 11 


Chapter 


I. 


Squabs Pay .... 


. 15 


Chapter 


II. 


An Easy Start 


. 21 


Chapter 


III. 


The Unit House 


. 37 


Chapter 


IV. 


Nest Bowls and Nests 


. 45 


Chapter 


V. 


Water and Feed 


. ' . .51 


Chapter 


VI. 


Laying and Hatching 


. 63 


Chapter 


VII. 


Increase of Flock 


- 75 


Chapter 


VIII. 


Killing and Cooling 


. 79 


Chapter 


IX. 


The Markets .... 


. 83 


Chapter 


X. 


Pigeons' Ailments . 


. 89 


Chapter 


XL 


Getting Ahead 


.93 


Chapter 


XII. 


Questions and Answers . 


. 101 


Supplement 




. 113 


Appendix A 




. 139 


Appendix B 




. 153 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page 
Portrait of the Author {Frontispiece) ..... 

A Weil-Built Nest . . .8 

Thoroughbreds . . . . . . . ... 14 

How a Back Yard may be Fixed for Pigeons . . . .18 

Cheap but Practical Nest Boxes . . . . . ■ . 22 

How City Dwellers without Land may Breed Squabs . . 24 

Unit Squab House (with Passageway) and Flying Pen . . 26 

Nest Boxes Built of Lumber . . . . . . .28 

Best Nest Box Construction ....... 30 

Interior of Squab House Showing Perches . . . .32 

A Pretty Squab House and Flying Pen . . . . ,36 

Multiple Unit House .38 

Interior of Multiple Unit House . . . . . .40 

Multiple Unit House, Ten Units, Built according to Our Plans . 42 
Nest Bowl, Bath Pan, Drinking Fountain, etc. . . . .46 

Berry Crate to Hold Nesting Material . . . . .50 

Scenes on the $200,000 Farm of One of Our Customers . . 58 

Eggs in the Nest, Squabs Just Hatched . . . . .64 

Squabs One Week Old, Squabs Two Weeks Old . . ,66 

Squabs Three weeks Old, Squabs Four weeks Old . . .68 

The Mating Coop 70 

Pigeons in St. Mark's Square, Venice . . . . .74 

Killing Squabs with the Hands ...... 80 

Killed Squabs Hung to Cool . . . . . . .82 

Three Dressed Squabs ........ 86 

Squab House Built of Logs ....... 88 

Pair of Homers Billing ........ 90 

How We Ship Pigeons ........ 98 

Self Feeder for Grain . . . . . . . .108 

Machine for Killing Squabs . . . . . . .114 

Sprayer 116 

Nest Boxes . . . , . . . . . .117 

Mating Coops in Mating House ...... 134 

Pigeons in Corner of Flying Pen . . . . . .138 

Interior of Mating House ....... 142 

Part of South Side of One of Our Houses .... 146 

Dowel System of Feeding and Watering . . . . .150 

Pigeons Bathing ......... 152 



PREFACE. 

This Manual or Handbook on Squabs is written to teach 
people, beginners mostly, not merely how to raise squabs, 
but how to conduct a squab and pigeon business successfully. 
We have found breeders of squabs who knew how to raise them 
fairly well and took pleasure in doing so, but were weak on 
the business end of the industry. The fancier, who raises 
animals because he likes their looks or their actions, or 
because he hopes to beat some other fancier at an exhibition, 
is not the man for whom we have written this book. We 
have developed Homer pigeons and the Homer pigeon industry 
solely because they are staples, and the squabs they produce 
are staples, salable in any market at a remunerative price. 
The success of squabs as we exploit them depends on their 
earning capacity. They are a matter of business. Our 
development of squabs is based on the fact that they are 
good eating, that people now are in the habit of asking for 
and eating them, that there is a large traffic in them which 
may be pushed to an enormous extent without weakening 
either the market or the price. If, as happens in this case, 
pigeons are a beautiful pet stock as well as money makers, 
so much the better, but we never would breed anything not 
useful, salable merely as pets. It is just as easy to pet a 
practical animal as an impractical animal, and much more 
satisfying. 

This Manual is the latest and most comprehensive work we 
have done, giving the results of our experience as fully and 
accurately as we can present the subject. It is intended as an 
answer to the hundreds of letters we receive, and we have 
tried to cover every point which a beginner or an expert needs 
to know. It is a fault of writers of most guide books like 
this to leave out points which they think are too trivial, or 
" which everybody ought to know." It has been our experi- 
ence in handling this subject and bringing it home to people 
that the little points are the ones on which they most quickly 
go astray, and on which they wish the fullest information. 
After they have a fair start, they are able to think out their 
operations for themselves. Accordingly we have covered 

11 



12 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

every point in this book in simple language and if the details 
in some places appear too commonplace, remember that we 
have erred on the side of plainness. 

The customers to whom we have sold breeding stock have 
been of great help to us in arranging and presenting these 
facts. We asked them to tell us just the points they wished 
covered, or covered more fully, or just where our writings 
were weak. They replied in a most kindly way, nearly every 
letter thanking us heartily, and brimming over with enthus- 
iasm for the squab industry. 

It has surprised a great many people to learn that Homer 
pigeons are such a staple and workable article. They hav^ 
been handled by the old methods for years without their 
great utility being made plain. When we first learned about 
squabs, we were struck by the impressive fact that here was 
something which grew to market size in the incredible time 
of four weeks and then was marketed readily at a good profit. 
The spread of that knowledge will make money for you. 
Show your neighbors the birds you buy of us, tell them the 
facts, and perhaps give them a squab to eat, then you w411 
find a quick call for all the live breeders you can supply. 

The procedure which we advise in this National Standard 
Squab Book is safe and sound, demonstrated to be successful 
by hundreds of our customers, many of whom started with no 
knowledge except what we were able to give them by letter 
or word of mouth. We have abandoned all instruction 
which does not stand the test of time and locality, and give 
only facts of proven value, of real, practical experience. 

ELMER C. RICE. 

Boston, August, 1902. 



POSTSCRIPT. 

This work has met with so much favor during the past year, 
and has sold so largely in excess of expectations, that we 
wish to thank our friends everywhere for their cordial support. 
The Appendix A which appears at the back of this edition 
was added last February, and it is our intention to keep the 
work up to date by revisions and additions at least twice 
yearly, The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the 



PREFACE 13 

proof of these squab teachings is shown in the successes made 
by our thousands of customers with no other knowledge of 
squabs than this as a guide. Our correspondence, now 
having extended over a long period, shows conclusively that 
beginners find all questions answered in this book, and go 
forward confidently and surely to success. 



Boston, August, 1903. 



E. C. R. 



1907 EDITION. 

The old plates of this book have been fairly worn out by 
much printing, so great has been the demand for it, especially 
during the past five years. The sales have been larger than 
for any other work on birds or animals ever written. For this 
1907 edition, the whole book has been reset in new type, and 
new plates made. 

The outlook for the squab industry during 1907 and the 
years to come is of high promise. More people are eating 
squabs than ever before and more people are raising them. 
At no time within our memory has the market been over- 
stocked with squabs, and prices have kept up all along the 
line. Only yesterday we were visited by a gentleman and his 
niece from New York City who stated that they had priced 
squabs there December 31 and found them seven dollars and 
fifty cents a dozen. The dealers who offered them at this 
price had paid the breeders for them from four dollars to six 
dollars a dozen, according to their postal card quotations sent 
out in December. 

We shall be pleased to hear from our friends after they have 
read this book, and welcome any suggestions for its improve- 
ment, or for the betterment of the squab industry. The 
author will gladly answer all such letters and advise fully as to 
location and construction of buildings, and management of 
breeding stock. 

E. C. R. 

Boston, January, 1907, 




THOROUGHBREDS. 



14 



CHAPTER I. 

SQUABS PAY. 

Experience of a Customer who Started in January, 1902, 
Erected a Plant Worth Three Thousand Dollars and Made 
Money Almost from the Start — Settlements of Squab Breeders 
in Iowa, California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — 
Large Incomes Made from Pigeons — Squab Plants Known 
to be Making Money — The Hard-Working Farmer and the 
Easy-Working Squab Raiser — No Occupation for a Drone — 
No Exaggeration. 

" Will it pay me to raise squabs?" is the first question 
which the beginner asks. We take the case of a man who 
bought a Manual in January, 1902. His boys had kept a few 
pigeons but had never handled them in a commercial way, 
nor tried to make any money with them. The reading of 
the book gave him the first real light on the squab industry. 
Possibly he was more ready to believe because he knew from 
his own personal experience that a squab grows to market size 
in four weeks and is then readily marketable. He started at 
once to build a squab house according to the directions given. 
The ground was too hard for him to get a pickaxe into, so 
he laid the foundation timbers on bricks, rushed the work 
ahead with the help of good carpenters and sent on his order 
for breeding stock. In the course of a few weeks he ordered 
a second lot of breeders, followed by a third and a fourth, 
and he kept adding new buildings. When spring came and 
the ground softened, he jacked up his first squab house, took 
out the bricks at the four comers and put in cedar posts. 
By the middle of July he had five handsome squab houses 
and flying pens, all built by skilled labor in the best possible 
style at a cost of at least three hundred dollars apiece. With 
his buildings and their fittings and his birds, his plant repre- 
sented an expenditure of between two thousand and three 
thousand dollars. 

This gentleman lives in a locality where he had to put up nice- 
looking buildings, or the neighbors would have complained. 
He spent probably three times more money on his buildings 

15 



16 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

than the average beginner would spend. He is a superin- 
tendent of a large manufacturing plant, a man of push and 
energy, and he has four young boys in his family who have 
helped with the wife and grandfather to make the venture 
successful. It was a paying venture almost from the very 
start. Everything that we wrote about squabs as money 
makers came true in his case. One of the sons, a lad of nine- 
teen, came on to see us the first summer and told us the story 
of their success. He was after more breeding stock. He 
said he had many calls from people who wished to buy stock 
of him, and he was unable to supply all of them, but he did 
not intend to have money offered him very long without 
being able to pass out the birds. In other words, they were 
going into squabs for all they were worth. They had not done 
any advertising, and had not sold' live breeders to any extent, 
but figured their profits solely on the sale of squabs to com- 
mission houses, and they were getting for them just what 
we said the commission men would pay. 

We have a great many visitors, some coming from remote 
points of the United States. One of our visitors in the 
summer of 1902 was Mr. A. L. Furlong, from a little town in 
Iowa. Mr. Furlong said to us: " Iowa is quite a squab 
breeding State. There are plants in Ruthven, Osage, Wallake 
and Estherville. The owner of a plant in Ruthven I know 
very well. He showed me his account books; he was shipping 
from seven hundred to eight hundred dollars worth of squabs 
last month. He is making a profit of three thousand to five 
thousand dollars a year. He ships to the Chicago market, 
as do nearly all the Iowa breeders. He never gets less than 
two dollars and fifty cents a dozen for his squabs. I am 
going to start raising squabs myself." 

Mr. Furlong left an order for one of our Manuals, having 
given his first one to his friend. He said that his friend was 
breeding common pigeons and would like to know our methods. 
We discarded common pigeons some time ago. If our Iowa 
friends will use Homer pigeons instead of common ones, they 
will produce a much better squab and make more money. 

We had a curious confirmation of the above in August, 1902, 
when Mr. E. H. Grice, who lives in the northern part of 
Vermont, visited us. Mr. Grice had just returned from a visit 
to the West, and stopped for a while at Ruthven, Iowa, where 



SQUABS PAY 17 

he saw the plant above noted. The proprietor referred Mr. 
Grice to us and advised him to start with Homer pigeons, 
saying that, if he were to stock up again, it would be with 
Homer instead of the common pigeons. Before leaving, Mr. 
Grice gave us an order for one hundred pairs of our Homers. 

The number of orders for breeding stock which we have 
received from Iowa is out of proportion to any State near it, 
showing that these squab plants are known throughout Iowa 
to be m.aking money. The same is true of California. We 
visited many squab breeders in eastern States in June, 1902, 
noting the buildings and methods and finding out from them 
if they were satisfied with the financial returns. All were 
enthusiastic and said it was easy work, that squabs beat 
hens easily and were much less care. The methods of some 
of these breeders were extremely crude, the birds nesting in 
old boxes of all sizes nailed to the walls of the squab 
houses, and apparently never being cleaned. The Homers 
were small, not being able to raise squabs weighing over seven 
pounds to the dozen. 

Somebody has said that a squab plant of one thousand pairs 
of birds will pay better than a farm. The contrast between 
the hard, grinding toil of the man who works a large farm and 
the " standing around " of the owner of a squab plant is indeed 
a striking one. However, we do not speak of this to give you 
the idea that money is going to flow into your lap just because 
you buy some squab breeders of us. It is no work for a drone 
or a " get -rich -quick " person whose enthusiasm runs riot for 
two weeks and then cools off. Our class of trade is men and 
women of experience and reliable common sense who have 
a knowledge of the world and understand that things come 
by work and not for the asking. The people who are able 
and willing to pay us from fifty to five hundred dollars for a 
breeding outfit, as hundreds do, are not caught by glittering 
promises, but have money laid by through exercise of the 
qualities of ability and shrewdness. The naturally careless, 
improvident person, who is generally in debt, should not start 
squab raising. It is a sensible industry for sensible people. 

The profits to be made with squabs vary with the individual 
and with the management of the birds, exactly as with poul- 
try. It is important to have only mated or even pairs in the 
pens and all birds not producing should be kept in a separate 




IS 



SQUABS PAY 19 

pen and removed to breeding quarters only after they have 
gone to work. The chief difficulty with a beginner is the 
matter of sex. The male and the female pigeon have no 
marks to distinguish them, and the beginner must determine 
their sex by observation. He must study his birds and come 
to know them. Some beginners will not equip themselves by 
study and observation to make a success and may breed in a 
hap-hazard fashion for a year or more without knowing the 
sex of the birds they raise. Birds which you raise will go to 
work more quickly, look better and breed better than any birds 
you can buy, because that is the temperament of the Homer, 
to be attached to his home, to love it, and to try to reach it if 
he can. Anybody who has doubts as to his ability to raise 
squabs should start with a small flock and breed up until he 
has acquired skill and experience. 

As part of this Manual, in the supplement and appendices, 
we print many letters from customers who started with small 
flocks and won striking successes. It is not necessary to get 
a fancy price for the squabs to make the business a success. 
In confirmation of this we have in mind the work of two of 
our customers, young men named Lunn, who have received 
only two dollars to three dollars a dozen for their squabs, 
selling to dealers who retail them for four dollars to six 
dollars a dozen. These brothers have told their story in one 
of the poultry papers as follows : 

" In February, 1905, we got the idea of going into the squab 
business. We spent some time looking around and in March, 
1905, we bought what we thought was the best stock, namely, 
the Extra Plymouth Rock Homers. We bought tv/elve 
pairs. The birds arrived on March 22, 1905, and were as 
fine a looking lot of birds as we had seen anywhere. We now 
(December, 1906) have three hundred pairs. One hundred and 
fifty pairs are well mated and working. The other one 
hundred and fifty pairs are all young birds. We raised all 
our young birds up until September, 1906, and since then have 
been selling squabs weighing from nine and one-quarter to 
ten and one-half pounds and receive twenty-three and 
twenty-five cents each. We feed the best of grain, using 
cracked corn, kaffir corn, red wheat, buckwheat and peas and 
a little hemp. We also give a little rice once or twice a week. 
During the moulting season we added barley to regular 



20 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

rations, which was a great help to the birds all that time. We 
use the self-feeder as described by Mr. Rice in his Manual and 
we find with it the grain is always clean. We have made the 
feeding question one of the most important of all and find 
that the best results are obtained by keeping plenty of grain 
and good clean drinking water before the birds at all times. 
The drinking fountains used are automatic and are scalded 
once each week. About once a week we give a teaspoonful 
of gentian to a gallon of water. We keep fresh water in the 
flying pens for bathing purpose at all times during the summer, 
and in the winter we allow our birds to bathe twice a week at 
noontime. One thing that is very essential with pigeons is 
to be kept clean. Our houses and nests are cleaned every 
week and we also spray the floors, nests and walk with a 
hquid disinfectant. We have never been troubled with lice, 
vermin or any disease of any kind. For nesting material we 
use tobacco stems, cutting them into pieces of about six 
inches, which we consider the best material for the purpose, 
and also a safeguard against lice. We feel satisfied with 
what our birds are doing and have done in the past, so well 
satisfied, in fact, that we have now under construction build- 
ings that will accommodate nearly one thousand pairs of birds. 
And the cost of keeping or feeding will not exceed one dollar 
a year per pair, so that squabs selling from two dollars to 
three dollars per dozen are sure to leave a good profit." 

Looking at the financial showing of the Lunn boys, made 
in twenty-two months, we find that starting with twelve 
pairs, for which they paid us thirty dollars, they raised three 
hundred pairs, worth at the same rate seven hundred and 
fifty dollars. From this must be deducted the grain which 
they bought in that period. They start the new year with a 
fine plant capable of earning a big percentage of profit on its 
valuation. 



CHAPTER IL 

AN EASY START. 

No Special Form of Building Necessary — Points to Remember 
— Shelter Adapted to the Climate — How to Use a Building 
which you Now Have — Squab House and Flying Pen — 
Lining the Squab House with Nests — ■ Use of Egg Crates — 
How to Put up the Perches — Difference between the Nest 
Box, Nest Pan and Nest — How to Tell How Many Pigeons 
can Occupy a Certain Building — A Large Flock of Pigeons 
is Easily Cared for when Split up into Small Flocks — 
How to Use Your Time to Best Advantage. 

Do not get the idea that any special form of building is 
necessary to raise squabs. We will tell you how to put up a 
structure that will make your work easier for you, and enable 
you to handle a big flock fast and accurately, but pigeons 
will work in almost any place, if it is free from rats, darkness 
and the musty dampness which goes with darkness. Any 
building, whether a woodshed, a corn crib, a barn, an outhouse 
of any description, or even a hog pen, can be made a successful 
home for pigeons with a little work. 

The points to remember are these, first, that the building 
be on fairly level, sunny ground; second, that it be raised 
from the ground so that rats cannot breed under it out of sight 
and reach; third, that it ought to be fairly tight, so as to keep 
out rain and excessive cold. Pigeons ought to have sunlight 
and fresh air, like any other animal, and need protection from 
the elements. 

In practice, therefore, most squab houses are found raised 
on posts a foot or two feet off the ground; they face the 
south (here in New England) because most of our bitter 
weather comes from the north and east. If you live in a 
State, territory or foreign country where conditions are 
different, adapt your squab houses to those conditions. In 
some localities, the fierce weather comes from the south and 
west, in which case your squab house should face the north 
or east. 

Here in New England we build a tight house to withstand 

21 




CHEAP BUT PRACTICAL NEST BOXES. 
These are empty egg crates piled one atop another from floor to roof of squab 
house. Each egg crate is two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep. The 
partition in the middle makes two nest boxes, each one foot square. Into each of 
these nest boxes a wood nest bowl is placed. The birds build their nests in these 
wood nest bowls. 



22 



AN EASY START 23 

the cold winters, but in the South the buildings are more open. 
Be guided by what you see around you in the place where you 
live. If the houses used by your friends and neighbors for 
hens and chickens are tight and warm, make your squab 
house tight and warm. It would be foolish for you, for 
example, if you live in Texas, to build a strong, tight, close 
squab house, for in that latitude, in a henhouse built tight 
and close, vermin would swarm and harass the chicks, and 
they would harass the squabs just as fast. 

Some of our customers write from places like Oregon and 
Idaho, where there is a wet and a dry season, and are puzzled 
to know what to do. In such cases we say, arrange your 
buildings as you see poultry houses arranged. The pigeons 
will do as well under the same conditions as hens and chickens. 

Suppose you have a vacant building or shack of any kind 
in which you wish to raise squabs. We will take for granted 
that it has either a flat roof or a ridgepole with sloping roof, 
and that it is built in rectangular form. Never mind what 
the dimensions are; our advice will apply to either the large 
or the small structure. 

First raise it off the ground, or build a new floor off the 
ground, so that rats cannot breed out of your sight in the 
darkness and get up into the squab house. If there is an old 
floor, patch up all the holes in it. Now you need one door, 
to get yourself in and out of the squab house, and you need 
at least one window through which the pigeons can fly from 
the squab house into the flying pen and back from the flying 
pen into the house. You will shut this window on cold nights, 
or on cold winter days. You must cover the whole window 
with wire netting so that the birds cannot break the panes 
of glass by flying against them. If you have no wire netting 
over the window, some of the birds, when it is closed, will 
not figure out for themselves that the glass stops their progress, 
but will bang against the panes at full speed, sometimes hurting 
their heads and dazing them and at other times breaking the 
glass. 

The flying pen which you will build on the window side of 
the squab house may be as small or as large as you have room. 
The idea of it is not to give the birds an opportunity for long 
flight, but simply to get them out into the open air and sun- 
light. They enjoy the sun very much, it does them good 




24 



AN EASY START 25 

and they court its direct rays all the time. Build the flying 
pen, if you choose, up over the roof, so the birds may sun 
themselves there. If that side of the roof which faces the 
flying pen is too steep for the pigeons to get a foothold, nail 
footholds along the roof, same as carpenters use when they 
are shingling a roof, and the pigeons will rest on these to sun 
themselves. For the flying pen you want the ordinary 
poultry netting, either of one-inch or two-inch mesh. Th^ 
two-inch mesh is almost invariably used by squab raisers, 
because it is very much cheaper than the one-inch mesh. 
The one-inch mesh is used only by squab raisers who are afraid 
that small birds (the English sparrows here in New England) 
will steal through the large meshes of the two-inch netting 
and eat the grain which you have bought for the pigeons. 
You can buy this wire netting in rolls of any width from one 
foot up to six feet. If your flying pen is twelve feet high, 
you should use rolls of the six-foot wire. If it is ten feet high, 
rolls which are five feet wide are what you want. If your 
flying pen is to be eight feet high, buy rolls which are four 
feet wide. In joining one width of wire netting to its neighbor, 
in constructing your flying pen, do not cut small pieces of tie 
wire and tie them together, for that takes too much time and 
is a bungling job, but buy a coil of No. 18 or 20 iron wire and 
weave this from one selvage to another of your wire netting 
in and out of the meshes, and you have the best joint. 

You can line the three walls of the interior of your squab 
house with nest boxes if you choose. The fourth wall is the 
one in which the window or windows are. On this fourth 
wall you should not have nest boxes, but perches. These 
perches, or roosts, should be tacked up about fifteen inches 
apart, so as to give the birds room without interfering with 
one another. The advantage of the V-shaped roost which we 
advise is that a bird perched on it cannot soil the bird under- 
neath. Do not buy the patent pigeon roosts which you see 
advertised, for a pigeon roosting on one will soil the pigeon 
roosting on the one immediately below. 

Please note particularly at this point the following terms 
which we use, and do not become confused. The nest box 
is something in which rests the nest bowl in which the nest 
is built. Do not speak or think of nests when you mean nest 
boxes. 




26 



^A^ EASY START 27 

The nest boxes, when done, should look like the pigeon-holes 
of a desk, and should be about one foot high, one foot wide 
and one foot deep. A variation either way of an inch or 
two will not matter. 

One way to get these pigeon-holes is to build them of nice 
pine lumber, in the form of boxing one-half or five-eighths 
of an inch thick. Another way is to use hemlock or spruce 
boards one inch thick. The third way (which we think is 
the best for the beginner who wishes to start most cheaply and 
quickly) is to use egg crates, or orange boxes. These egg 
crates are two feet long, one foot wide and one foot deep, 
but they are divided in the middle by a partition, giving two 
spaces, each of a cubic foot, and this is just what the squab 
raiser wants. They are procurable almost anywhere in the 
United States and Canada new for ten or fifteen cents each, 
and if you buy them after the egg shippers are through with 
them, you can get them for three to five cents apiece. Some 
grocers will be glad to have you carry them away and will 
charge you nothing for them. The crates are built of thin, 
tough wood and usually are neat and solid. Take off the 
covers and throw the covers away, — you do not need them. 
Then put one egg crate on its side, open top out, place 
another egg crate on top of that, and so on until you have 
covered the three walls of your squab house from the floor 
to the roof. Do not use any nails, they are not necessary: 
the crates will keep in position by their weight. It is an 
advantage, also, to have them loose, for when you clean the 
nests, you can step up on a chair or box, take down the crates, 
commencing with the top, and clean each one with your feet 
on the floor. If you build a substantial set of nest boxes of 
boxing or hemlock lumber, you will have to stand on a chair 
and strain your arms in order to clean the top nest boxes, 
so you see there are points in the low-priced arrangement 
not possessed by the fancy kind. It is on the same principle 
by which a humble small boy with bent pin and worms and an 
old pole catches more fish than the city angler with a twenty- 
five dollar assortment of hooks, lines and artificial flies. It 
is the pigeons and the intelligence behind them which do the 
trick, every time. A fancy pigeon house with fancy trimmings 
cannot produce any better squabs than the home-made affair, 
provided the birds are the same in both cases. 




NEST BOXES BUILT OF LUMBER. 






28 



AN EASY START 29 

You should have a pair of nest boxes for a pair of pigeons. 
By a pair of pigeons we mean two pigeons, a male and a 
female. By a pair of nest boxes we mean two nest boxes. 
We find that the word pair has a different meaning to people 
in different parts of the country, perhaps on the same principle 
that a pair of scissors or a pair of suspenders is one object, 
while a pair of something else, as in this case, means two 
objects. A pair of pigeons attend to a pair of squabs in one 
nest box, nevertheless for each pair of pigeons you need two 
nest boxes, for when the squabs are about two weeks old in 
one nest, the old birds will go to the adjoining nest box, or to 
a nest box in a distant part of the squab house, and begin 
housekeeping again, laying eggs and dividing their attention 
between the two families. 

Count your nest boxes and you will know how many 
pigeons your house will accommodate. If your count shows 
ninety-six nest boxes (in other words, forty-eight pairs of nest 
boxes), you can accommodate (in theory) forty-eight pairs 
of pigeons. It is important to remember this: Never- fill 
a house with pigeons to the uttermost limit of its capacity, 
as shown by count of nest boxes. If you have, for example, 
forty -eight pairs of nest boxes, do not put into that house 
more than thirty to forty pairs of pigeons. That will leave 
plenty of nest boxes for the birds to choose from. We have 
found by experience that thirty or thirty-five pairs in a 
ninety-six nest-box house will accomplish more than more 
pairs in the same space. 

Do not write us and tell us that you have a house of a 
certain size and ask us to tell you how many pairs of pigeons 
it will accommodate. Put in your nest boxes as we have 
described and then count them, and you will know. Or you 
may figure it out for yourself on paper, allowing two nest 
boxes, each one cubic foot in size, for each pair of birds. To 
put it in another way, you should allow one cubic foot of nest 
box space for each breeding pigeon. Surely we have made 
this so plain now that you cannot go astray. 

Perhaps your start will be made with so small a number of 
birds that you will not have to cover more than one wall of 
your squab house with nest boxes. Cover one wall, or two 
walls, or three walls, whichever the occasion demands. Have 
a lot of spare boxes, and let the breeding pairs choose where 




BEST NEST BOX CONSTRUCTION. 

• u ^J[^-^Vs*^?, '^^^l ^^^"^^^ ^^® ^^^^^ °f lumber (one-half an inch or five-eighths of an 
inch thick) the above construction should be employed. The bottoms are not 
nailed, but slide in on cleats, as shown. The result is a sliding shelf. This shelf 
may be pulled out at cleaning time and a better and quicker job of cleaning done 
T* .1, . • ^1^^ bowls may be screwed directly to the bottoms of the above nest boxes. 
If that IS done, it \yill not be necessary to screw the nest bowls to blocks of wood 
to give them stabihty. 

The nest boxes should be from ten inches to twelve inches square. 



30 



AN EASY START 31 

they will. An extra number of nest boxes may be useful 
to you to accomniodate the young birds raised to breeding 
age from the old birds which you buy of us, if you intend to 
raise your squabs to breeding age. 

An expenditure of not over five dollars, and a couple of 
days' time, will transform the average old building into a 
habitation for squabs. Put on the finishing touches and add 
to the expense to suit your fancy. You may cover the out- 
side of the building with building paper, and shingle or clap- 
board it. You may put a skylight in the roof for ventilation. 
Improve it all you wish. Use your own judgment. 

To get at your pigeons in such a house, you walk in through 
the door and find yourself directly among them, the nest 
boxes all pointing at you. Go to the nest which you wish to 
investigate or from which you wish to take out the squabs 
and put your hand in the opening. The old birds will fly 
by your head, perhaps, and may strike you with their wings, 
but they will not fly into your face and eyes, — they are good 
dodgers. Don't be afraid that if you enter the house when 
the housekeeping is going on you will frighten the birds so 
they never will come back to the eggs or the squabs. They 
will seem timid at first, but they will get accustomed to you. 

In the course of a few weeks, only a few will make a great 
hustle to get away from you. Many of them will continue 
to sit contentedly on the eggs and if you put up your hand 
to them they will not fly off in fear but will slap you with 
their wings, telling you in their language not to bother them. 
Carry some hempseed in with you and you will teach the 
birds to come and eat it out of your hand. You can tame 
them and teach them to love you. as any animal is taught. 
The pigeon, particularly the Homer, the king of them all, is 
a knowing bird. 

Tack up a few perches where you have room on that wall 
or those walls of the squab house which have no nest boxes. 
You do not need a perch for every pigeon, because while some 
are on perches, others are in the nests, or out in the flying pen, 
or on the roof, or on the floor of the squab house. If you 
have forty-eight pigeons, twenty perches will be enough, and 
you can get along with a dozen. Make each perch of two 
pieces of board, one six inches square, the other six inches 
by five, and toe-nail the perch to the wall of the squab house 




32 



AN EASY START 33 

as shown in the illustration. You cannot have one long 
pole inside the squab house for a pigeon perch. If you had 
such a pole, and your pigeons were perched on it, or some 
of them were, a bully cock would saunter down the line and 
push off all the others. 

In the centre of the squab house you place an empty crate 
or overturned box. The object of this is to break the force 
of the wind made by the pigeons' wings as they fly in and out 
of the squab house. Otherwise the floor of the squab house 
would be swept clean by the force of the wind. It also forms 
a roosting-place for the birds, and, flnally, it is a convenient 
resting-place for the straw, hay, grass or pine needles out of 
which the pigeons build their nests. 

The floor of the squab house should be kept clean. We 
formerly advised that a layer of sand or sawdust half an 
inch thick be kept on the floor of the squab house, to absorb 
the droppings, but we have found a steady and profitable 
demand for pigeon manure, and this manure is worth scraping 
up and carefully saving, for its sale will pay from one-quarter 
to one-third of the grain bill. Use an ice chisel to scrape the 
droppings from the floor, and pack the manure away in barrels 
or bags. Clean the floor about once in three weeks, or oftener, 
depending on the size of your flock. Pigeon manure is in 
active demand all the time by tanneries. We send the 
manure from our pigeons by freight to tanneries in Lowell, 
Lynn, Peabody and Danvers, and are paid for it at the rate 
of sixty cents a bushel. 

We have a building eighty feet long built especially for the 
drying and storing of the manure. During the years we have 
been in the squab business, we have sold enough pigeon 
manure to pay for nearly all the pigeon buildings on our farm. 
Some pigeon raisers with crude methods know nothing of the 
'Talue of the manure and lose this by-product. They either 
ruin it by putting sand or sawdust on the floor of the squab 
house, or else waste it on their gardens. The pure manure 
is too valuable for home use. To fertilize our flower and 
vegetable gardens, and hay field, we scrape up from the 
flying pens, outdoors, the gravel which has become saturated 
with manure. It is surprising what an increase in vegetation 
this manure-soaked gravel will cause. Fresh gravel is put 
down in the flying pens. 



34 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

A peculiarity about pigeon manure is that it is not foul- 
smelling like hen manure, and when it is mixed with water 
you get a kind of crude soap. In washing the old-style 
earthenware nest bowls, no soap was necessary. We used 
warm water in washing them and the manure caked to them 
formed a cleansing soap in conjunction with the water. If 
you have a basket in which you have transported pigeons, 
and whose bottom is caked with the hard droppings, lay the 
basket face down and sprinkle water liberally on the under- 
side. The manure will drop off in large pieces from the 
inside and the basket will become perfectly clean. 

In raising live-stock of any kind, arrange matters so the 
animals will look after themselves as much as possible. Aim 
to cut down the factor of personal drudgery, so as to leave 
your time clear to observe, plan, and execute intelligently. 
Beginners who load themselves down with a daily round of 
exacting duties soon lose heart, their patience gives out and 
they become disgusted. We have known breeders of rabbits 
to fail simply because they raised them in hutches. Each 
hutch had a door and two dishes, one for feed, the other for 
water. Every day, the door of the hutch had to be opened, 
the hutch cleaned, the dishes refilled (and often cleaned), and 
the door closed. It took fifteen or twenty motions to do this 
for each hutch. Multiply this by twenty to thirty (the 
number of the hutches), and the burden grew unbearable. 
It was not surprising that in three or four months the breeder's 
patience was worn out. The factor of personal drudgery had 
become greater than the rabbits. The thoughtful breeder 
would have turned his rabbits into two or three enclosures on 
the ground and let them shift for themselves. Then one set 
of motions in feeding would have answered for all, and there 
would have been no dirt to clean up. Infinite patience as 
well as skill is required to make a success of animals given 
individual attention. The aim of every breeder should be to 
make one minute of his time serve the greatest possible num- 
ber of animals. When you think and reason for yourself, 
you understand how much more practical it is to give sixty 
animals one minute of your time than one animal one minute. 
Time is money and if you are too particular, and too fussy. 
and thoughtless about these details, it is a clear case of the 
chances being sixty to one against you. 



AN EASY START 35 

At the start, the problem of breeding squabs for market 
is in your favor, because one hundred pairs of breeding 
pigeons may be handled as easily and as rapidly as one pair. 
Try to keep this numerical advantage in your favor all the 
time. Discard every plan that cuts down the efficiency of 
your own labor, and adopt every device that will give you 
control in the same time over a greater number of pigeons. 

It takes brains and skilled labor to run a poultry plant 
successfully. Every poultryman knows that he cannot 
entrust the regulation of temperatures of incubators and 
brooders to an ignorant hired man, but even a boy or girl, or 
under-the-average farm hand, knows enough to fill up the 
bath pans and feeding troughs for squab-breeders, leaving 
the time of the owner free for correspondence and the more 
skilful work. 

The primary object is to breed squabs for market as cheaply, 
as easily and as fast as possible, without the expenditure of a 
dollar for fanciful or impractical appurtenances. 

Do not think it is necessary to heat your squab house. A 
squab house which has the chill of dampness taken off it by 
hot water or steam pipes will raise more squabs than a house 
not heated, but a flock of pigeons in a small house throw off 
considerable heat from their bodies and will breed in cold 
weather all right. After you have developed your plant and 
have a large business which you wish to keep at the highest 
state of efficiency, you may heat your squab house. The idea 
of heat in winter time is to keep the birds more contented and 
get more squabs out of them, and not at all to keep them 
alive. Do not be afraid that your pigeons will freeze to 
death. We have many customers in Canada. In coldest 
weather, the old birds hover the squabs more carefully. 

City people can keep pigeons in the garret of a house, or the 
loft of a bam, without a foot of ground being needed. In 
such a case the flying pen, or place to which the pigeons go 
for sun and air, can be built out on a platform. The illus- 
tration (page 24) shows how to utilize a window of a garret. 
If you think that rats will trouble you in either a garret or 
barn loft, cover the floor inside, especially the comers, with 
fine wire netting through which it will be impossible for the 
rats to gnaw from below. 

One of our customers in Illinois, a rich horse breeder having 



36 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



a bam some 'two hundred feet long, turned the whole 
upper story into a loft for pigeons. The flying pen takes in 
the whole back of the bam. There are windows and no doors 
on this side of the bam, the horses using doors on the other 
side, so this leaves the upper story of the bam, and its whole 
back-yard, free for the pigeons. 




A PRETTY SQUAB HOUSE AND FLYING PEN. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE UNIT HOUSE. 

Best Possible Construction for a Squab Plant — The Wind- 
Break Formation of Roof — Dimensions of the Unit — 
Multiplying the Unit to Increase the Capacity of Your 
Plant - — A Passageway behind the Nest Boxes — Number- 
ing the Nest Boxes, and the Management of a Card Index to 
Correspond — Cost of the Unit Construction is from Three 
Dollars to Five Doilars a Running Foot — Working Drawings 
— The Nest Bowls. 

If you. have no building already standing which you can fix 
over for pigeons, you may erect a simple rectangular structure 
and line it with nest boxes as we have described in the last 
chapter We will tell you in this chapter how to put up the 
finest kind of a pigeon structure. It is at the same time the 
most expensive. It is the best, the most workmanlike. In 
saying that it is expensive, we do not mean that money is 
thrown away on its construction, for that is not so. It is a 
fit habitation for a money-making investment. 

This best method of construction results in what we call the 
unit house. You can multiply this unit as many times as you 
please and get as large a house as you wish, or you may add 
a unit from time to time, just as you add unit bookcases to 
accommodate the growth of the modern library shelves. 
You can erect these units separately, or attach one unit to the 
other so that you have one long building. 

The nest boxes are built of boxing and set in a vertical row 
at the back of the house, forming a wall between which and 
the north side of the house is a three-foot passageway. You 
can buy this boxing at a saw-mill all cut, ten by eleven inches, 
the dimensions of the nest, and if you get it in this shape you 
can put the boxes together with as much ease as a child builds 
a doll's house. You will have no doubts as to the squareness 
and plumbness of the structure when you have it up. Take 
long lengths of boxing eleven inches wide for the shelving 
which should form the top and bottom of the nest boxes, then 
set the ten-inch by eleven-inch pieces the proper distance 

37 




h o 
^ o 

p CO 

S-2 



38 



THE UNIT HOUSE , 39 

apart. The finished nest will be eleven inches from front to 
back, ten inches from top to bottom, and about ten inches 
from one partition to the other (or whatever distance the 
proper distribution of your nests in pairs permits). 

We have found five-eighths-inch boxing to be the best 
suited. Build the nest boxes up from floor to roof perfectly 
plain, just as the pigeon-holes of a desk run. 

The nest boxes should be perfectly plain, made of simple 
boxing in the manner described. Do not build up a piece of 
boxing at the front part of the nest to prevent the nest bowl 
from being pushed out. Early in our experience we built 
nests in this way, but soon changed them over to the simpler 
form, on account of the difficulty of keeping them clean. The 
droppings bank up at the front of such a nest box. 

Pigeons, especially a new flock in a new home, breed best 
in a house which is somewhat dark, and not too glaring with 
light. If your window is situated so as to let in a flood of 
light, you will get better and quicker results by shading it so 
that the interior will be dim. Some breeders advocate that 
the nest boxes have fronts of wood (removable) so that the 
nest box will be darkened. The same result will be accom- 
plished if the window of the house is shaded so as to temper 
the light and prevent it from streaming into the nest boxes. 

The dimensions of this unit squab house are as follows: 
Length, 'sixteen feet; width, twelve feet; length of flying pen 
from end of house to end of yard, twenty feet; distance from 
floor of squab house to ridgepole, twelve feet; two windows 
in south wall of squab house, each two feet two inches wide 
and three feet ten inches high. One window in north wall of 
squab house, two feet two inches wide and three feet ten 
inches high. There is a passageway on the north side of the 
squab house three feet wide, separating the north wall from 
the vertical row of nest boxes. The door of the squab house 
opens into this passageway so that you can enter the house 
without being seen by the birds, and without disturbing them. 

If you wish, you can set up rows of nest boxes on the 
east and west walls of the squab house and accommodate more 
pairs. You cannot have a passageway behind these nest 
boxes on the east and west walls, but will approach them 
from the front by entering the interior of the squab house 
through a wire door which leads from the passageway. 




INTERIOR OF MULTIPLE UNIT HOUSE. 

This is one of our houses. The drinking fountains stand in the passageway and 
their fronts project througli the wire netting under tlie tirst^row of nest boxes. Ihe 
nest boxes are empty egg crates. The feed troughs are inside of each pen. In 
otlier houses, we set the feed troughs alongside the drinkers in the aheyway and 
cut away the netting so the birds can feed from tliem. We hke the last arrange- 
ment best because the troughs can be filled more quickly from the passageway, and 
the time of opening and closing doors and going into pens is saved. 



40 



THE UNIT HOUSE 41 

Build the first unit so that you can extend it either to the 
east or west (as your land lies) to increase your accommoda- 
tions. Your squab house will always remain sixteen feet 
from north to south, but it may be either twelve feet from 
east to west, for one unit, or twenty-four feet for two units, 
or thirty-six feet for three units, and so on. Of course you 
can build one long house sixteen feet wide and in length any 
multiple of twelve, and keep all the birds you wish in it, but 
we do not advise such an arrangement. You can keep track 
of your pairs better if you split a big flock up into unit flocks. 

Fanciers breeding flying Homers from our birds, or squab- 
raisers who wish to keep track of every pair of birds, can 
provide a card index (the cards being perfectly blank and 
three by five inches in size), number the cards to corre- 
spond with the nest boxes, and on these cards keep a record 
of what the birds in the nest boxes do. These cards, which 
are blank except for the numbers they bear, can be kept in a 
tray such as the manufacturers of card indexes advertise in the 
back pages of the magazines and you can pick out any card 
you wish, or turn to it, at once. It is much better than 
keeping a record in a book, for you cannot tear out the leaves 
of a book, as you can throw away a card, nor can you shift one 
page from one location to another, as you can a card in a tray. 

The floor of the squab house rests on cedar posts and is 
two feet from the ground. The floor is built of two thick- 
nesses of board, with building paper between. The walls of 
the squab house are built of boards which are covered with 
building paper and shingled. The roof is shingled. You 
can use clapboards on the sides, or common boards. 

The cost of such a squab house, complete with flying pen 
and all inside fittings, built in the best possible manner, will 
be from three dollars to five dollars a running foot. . That is 
to say, a unit plant twelve feet long will cost from thirty-six 
to sixty dollars. A plant consisting of three units, thirty -six 
feet long, will cost from one hundred and eight to one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars. We publish and sell for ten cents 
working drawings showing just how to build a unit in 
every detail. On the same sheet are working drawings 
for building a simple squab house (without passageway) to 
cost from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. Also on the same 
sheet we give data showing how one of our friends built a 




< 
o t? 






K o 



I— I c» 



42 



THE UNIT HOUSE 43 

squab house and pen capable of accommodating two hundred 
and twenty pairs of breeders at a cost of one hundred and 
thirty dollars. In ordering, simply say you wish plans and 
specifications for squab houses. 

Some begmners with plenty of means and anxious for the 
best construction write us to ask if a cement floor is not 
better than a wood floor. A cement floor is positively 
wrong, for this reason: when it is freshly laid, it is good, 
but the first winter causes the dirt foundation to shrink and 
swell, then come cracks in the cement. Rats and mice burrow 
m the dirt up to the cement and find their way through the 
cracks to the squabs. In a short time, they are a nuisance. 
We have seen a squab house built with cement floor which 
cracked as described and every time the owner and his dog 
took a walk down the alleyway, they found rats to kill. 
Fmally the whole lot of cement had to be pounded to pieces, 
shoveled up and carted off. The way to stop rats and mice 
is to erect the building on posts as we have described. Rats 
and mice live in the dirt and they cannot get up into the 
squab house. Let your dog or cat every day under such a 
house, between the flooring and the ground, and they will 
keep down the vermin as fast as they show themselves, and 
your squabs never will be troubled. 

In our early plans for the unit squab house, we provided 
for a building with a " jog " in the roof, making a long, low 
slope for the south side of the roof, and on this slope the 
birds would sun themselves and make love. This " jog " 
construction is more expensive than is needed, and now we 
have a better way. We have an ordinary pitch roof, sloping 
equally from the ridgepole to both north and south. We run 
the flying pen out on the south side, not from the ridgepole, 
but from the eaves, and then out in the flying pen we erect 
perches as shown in the picture. The fact that the birds 
rest easily on these perches (as the photograph in Appen- 
dix A shows) is proof that they are contented and pleased 
by such an arrangement. We have found, too, that they 
can hear the squeaks of their young for food better than if 
they are up on the roof, and better attention to the squabs 
IS the result. It was formerly thought unsafe to erect perch- 
ing poles in the flying pen directly in front of the windows, 
the fear being that birds darting suddenly out of the windows 



44 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

would strike the perching poles and become injured. Such a 
fear goes on the assumption that a pigeon cannot take care 
of itself in flight. They are quick of eye and quick of wing, 
and are intelligent to a high degree, and we never knew a 
bird to be injured by flying against horizontal perches in the 
flying pen. They never strike them but always fly between 
them or alight on them. 

Please note particularly that if you erect one ""ong building 
which will be a multiple of units, you separate these units, 
both inside and outside of the squab house, not by board 
partitions, but by wire partitions. For instance, if you have 
a building one hundred feet long, ten units, you will separate 
the units by nine wire partitions, these partitions being erected 
both inside and outside the house. 



CHAPTER IV. 

NEST BOWLS AND NESTS. 

Do Not Use the Old- Fashioned Nest Rans— Obvious Faults 
of the Earthenware Nappy — The Wood- Fibre Nest Bowl 
— How the Pigeons Choose Nest Boxes — What to Use for 
Nesting Material — How the Birds Manage their Nests. 

For nest pans, do not use the heavy, deep, red clay, unglazed 
dishes .which you may see offered, for sale as._.pigep.n, nests. 
They are a relic of the past. 

In our early experience we used for a pigeon nest bowl 
che common kitchen yellow earthenware nappy. We em- 
ployed two sizes, the six-inch and the seven-inch, changing 
from the large one to the small one when the squabs were 
two weeks old. These earthenware nappies filled the bill in 
being cheap and shallow, and the pigeons deposited their 
manure in a circle outside and not inside the nest, but they 
have faults which are obvious. They are flat and not round- 
ing on the bottom. When the female pigeon turns the eggs 
(as she does daily, same as a hen, in order to give the heat of 
her body to the whole shell and to give fresh albumen to the 
germ) the eggs are liable to roll apart, making it necessary 
for the bird to gather them together again, and after two or 
three mishaps like this she is liable to desert them. The 
earthenware is cold, breakable and can be kept clean only 
with water. The washing of the nappies becomes a tedious 
'ta^k and is often -neglected". "Thwmt'el*'weafh~er7"'Eire "earthen- 
ware dishes become so cold that one's fingers are numbed 
by handling them — and the squabs which sit in them are 
numbed, even frozen. 

Later we perfected a nest bowl made of wood which met 
every objection raised against earthenware. We sold thou- 
sands of them during the two years we had them on the market 
and they gave good satisfaction except when some were 
made of improperly seasoned lumber, in which case they 
would crack and split after a few months' use. After study 
and experiment to remove this objection, we had expensive 
patterns and moulds made and began the manufacture of 

45 



OLD-STYLE NEST PAN, WATER DISH. LARGE NAPPY. SMALL NAPPY 
Do not use either the old-style pigeon nest pan or open water dish. 




THE WOOD-FIRRE NEST BOWL. 
Tliis is made in one size (nine inches diameter of bowl). To give stabiUty, the 
bowl may be fastened to a base by one screw. The first picture shows the perspective 
view; the second picture shows one-half cut away. This is the most practical nest 

San for squab raising and is having an enormous sale. The bowl may be screwed 
irectly to the bottom of the nest box. (See page 48.) 




BATH PAN AND DRINKER. HAND BASKET. 

One bath pan to every twelve pairs of birds is necessary. The hand basket 
(price $3.50) is used in large plants to carry the squabs from the nests to the killing 
place. The squabs should not be killed in sight of the parent birds. 

46 



i 



NEST BOWLS AND NESTS 47 

these bowls out of wood fibre. Their success was quickly 
demonstrated and now we sell nothing else. These wood- 
fibre nest bowls have all the advantages of the wood bowls 
and at the same time are practically indestructible, cannot 
warp or split. The wood fibre of which they are made is 
thick and exceedingly tough, being solidified under many 
tons' pressure. After making they are treated with an 
odorless, anti-moisture compound and then baked to flint- 
like hardness. We sell these wood fibre nest bowls in one 
size only, nine inches in diameter. Price, eight cents each, 
ninety-six cents per dozen, eleven dollars and fifty-two cents 
per gross. We make prompt shipment from Boston same 
day order is received, m any quantity. No order is filled for 
less than one dozen. We have the exclusive manufacture and 
sale of these goods and they cannot be obtained elsewhere. 

The advantages of this nest pan are these: (1) The eggs roll 
to the centre and are always close together under the birds. 

(2) It is warmer than earthenware and eggs are not chilled. 

(3) It is cleaned without water by means of a trowel, and 
may then be whitewashed, if desired. (4) The claws of the 
old birds and squabs do not sprawl, and no cases of deformed 
legs in the squabs are found. (5) It is unbreakable. (6) 
When shipped either short or long distances, no packing is 
necessary, they are lighter and the freight bill is smaller. 
(7) And finally the birds " take " to them more readily than 
to earthenware, getting to work more quickly and producing 
more squabs. 

We make this wood fibre nest bowl in only one size as 
specified and illustrated (two sizes are not necessary because 
the feet of the squabs do not sprawl as in the case of the 
earthenware nappies). You will need one pair of nest bowls 
for every pair of pigeons (in other words, one nest bowl to 
every pigeon). If you order twenty-four pairs of breeders 
you will need forty-eight nest bowls. If you order ninety-six 
pairs of breeders you will need one hundred and ninety-two 
nest bowls. 

We know our birds will breed more successfully in these 
nest bowls than in earthenware, and to make it an object 
for you to buy them, you may deduct the freight charges 
on nest bowls from your order for birds. First order your 
nest bowls sent by freight, then when you order your breeders, 



48 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

send us your freight receipt and count the amount as cash. 
Or you may order your birds at the same time you do the 
nest bowls (and other supphes) and when you get your freight 
receipt send it to us. Orders for one dozen to four dozen 
bowls should go by express with the birds (tied to the basket) , 
unless it is desired to have the bowls go with grain, grit, shells, 
etc., by freight. 

Place one nest bowl in each one of your nest boxes. Let 
the pairs choose to suit themselves. At the end of the month, 
when you take out the squabs, take out the nest bowl, clean 
it and put it back. 

Many customers who do not use egg crates or orange 
boxes, but build their nest boxes of half -inch or five-eighths 
lumber, have written us that they used the construction 
which we illustrate on page 30, and which is good, because 
cleaning can be better done. The bottoms of the nest boxes 
are removable and rest on cleats, as the picture shows. The 
cleats are seven-eighths or one inch square and are nailed 
to the uprights. When this construction is employed, it is 
not necessary that you have a block or base screwed to our 
wood-fibre nest bowl. The nest bowl may be screwed 
directly onto this removable bottom. If you use egg crates 
or solid-built nest boxes, you will have to give the wood-fibre 
nest bowl stability by screwing it to a base of wood seven 
inches square and about three-quarters of an inch thick. 

When the squab house is ready for the birds, each of the 
nest boxes has one of these nest bowls. The pigeons build 
their own nests in them, taking the nesting material and flying 
to the nest bowl with it. The average nest has from one to 
two inches of straw compactly and prettily laid by the birds. 
Some birds use more nesting material than others. After the 
squabs are hatched, they quickly show that Nature never 
intended them to have a dirty nest. When they wish to 
make manure, they back up to the edge of the nest and "shoot" 
outward and over the edge of the nest bowl into the nest box, 
which is just where, the breeder wants to find it. In a week 
or two there will be a circle of solid manure in the nest box, 
but it is out of the nest, and off and awa}^ from the feet of 
the squabs. As the squabs grow older, their claws tread and 
throw out the straw on which they were hatched, and the nest 
bowl gets bare again as it was in the first place. The small 



NEST BOWLS AND NESTS 49 

amount of manure which then sticks to it is removed with a 
trowel. 

The use of this wood-fibre nest bowl has lightened the 
work a great deal for they never have to be washed. They 
should not be washed, for water weakens them, particularly 
at the bottom, where the screw hole is. A washer should 
be put under the screw head to hold the bowl tight and to 
prevent its turning while being cleaned. We ship these 
washers and screws with the bowls. 

The pigeons will not take with mathematical regularity 
pair by pair the nest boxes which you have provided. Some 
of them will take them in pairs, one adjoining the other. 
This makes it convenient for you in keeping track of them. 
Others will take one nest box in one part of the squab house 
but go to another part of the squab house for their second 
nest. Some will not take a nest box at all, but will build a 
rough nest on the floor of the squab house and rear their 
family there. Let them choose for themselves. 

The nests are built by the birds of straw, grass, hay or pine 
needles. The birds fly to the pile, select what wisps they 
want, then fly to the nest boxes and arrange the wisps in 
a nest bowl to suit themselves. Tobacco stems are recom- 
mended for nesting material, because the odor from them 
will have a tendency to drive away lice, but they are not 
necessary if the nest bowls are used and ordinary cleanliness 
observed. The tanners do not want manure mixed with 
tobacco stems which have dropped down from the nests. 
The stems, when wet in the vat, stain the hides. When 
tobacco stems are used for nesting material, it is impossible 
to prevent many of them from dropping to the floor, where 
they are tramped by the birds into the manure. The tanners 
do not care if some straw and hay are in the manure. Before 
cleaning out the squab house, the loose straw and feathers 
should be swept out with a broom. 

The best thing ^to keep the nesting material in is a berry 
crate. Fill it with straw and hay (use the fine oat,- not rye 
straw, cut into six-inch lengths) - and - shut down the coA^er. 
Then when the birds want nesting material they will fly to 
the vertical openings in the sides of the berry crates, stick 
their bills in and make their selection. The cover of the berry 
crate prevents the birds from soiling the nesting material. 



50 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

They will not build nests with dirty nesting material. It must 
be first-class, clean, dry and sweet or they will not use it. 

Some of our customers use pine needles successfully for 
nesting material. We have never tried them because they 
are not plentiful around our farm. Where they are in abun- 
dance, we recommend that they be tried. 

When a new lot of pigeons are placed in a squab house, 
they will cause annoyance, while they are learning their new 
home and getting ready to go to work, by making manure in 
the nest bowls, where they roost. This cannot be prevented. 
The remedy is, to clean once a week. 




Fill this berry crate with nesting material (straw cut into six-inch lengths, and 
hay, mixed about equahy) and place it in centre of squab house. The cover prevents 
the birds from fouling the nesting material. They stick their biUs through the slats, 
select the wisps they want, and fly to nests. 



CHAPTER V. 

WATER AND FEED. 

Necessity of Pure Water and Plenty of it — The Kind of 
Drinking Dish to Use and the Kind Not to Use — Manage- 
ment of the Drinking Fountain and Bath Pan — The Feed 
Trough and Self- Feeder — Feeding Habits — What Grains 
to Use — How to Mix Red Wheat and Cracked Corn — Use 
of Grit, Oyster Shell and Salt — How to Feed the Dainties 
— Keep Feed before Your Flock All the Time. 

Pure water and plenty of it is good for pigeons. When the 
weather is not too cold, it is the custom of pigeons to get 
into water, wherever it is. When they cannot bathe in it, 
they will stick their dirty feet into it. When they cannot 
get in their feet, they will douse their heads. They are after 
water all the time. When feeding the squabs, the old bird will 
fill up its crop with grain, then fly to the water and take a drink, 
then return and dole out to the squabs the watery and milky 
mixture on which they fatten. 

The source of drinking water should be separate from the 
bath pan. They will drink from the bath pan, to be sure, 
while the water remains comparatively clean, but after a few 
have bathed in it, it is unfit for any bird to drink, and inside 
of twenty minutes the pan is not only covered with a whitish, 
greasy scum, but is dyed greenish from the manure which 
has washed off their feet. 

There should be drinking water inside the squab house, 
provided you have not a running stream or some such clean 
water device in the flying pen. 

The kind of water dish you do not want in the squab house 
is the kind with the open top, into which the birds can wade, 
and which they can foul with their droppings. The best device 
we have found is the self -feeding fountain, such as we illus- 
trate on page 46. This fountain is made either of crockery 
or galvanized steel, or iron. Galvanized iion or steel is better 
than crockery, because if water freezes in such a dish the 
dish will not be cracked. It wih be seen by examination 
of the self-drinker that it is impossible for the pigeons to foul 

51 



52 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

the water. The reservoir holds quite a supply of water, 
which feeds down as fast as it is drunk by the pigeons. We 
have seen beginners puzzled by these self -drinking dishes; 
they cannot imagine why the water does not all run out" at 
once by the bottom hole. It is a simple principle in hydraulics 
which you may demonstrate to your own satisfaction by fill ng 
an ordinary tumbler with water and then inverting it in a 
saucer of water. There is no way for the air to get to the 
inside of the tumbler except by passing under the rim at the 
points where it touches the saucer, consequently it does not 
flow down unless the water is removed from the saucer, and 
then it ceases as soon as the water in the saucer rises over 
the rim of the tumbler again. In fact, some self -drinkers 
for poultry are made of two pieces of pottery exactly on the 
principle of the tumbler and saucer. These fountains are not 
so practical as the fountain which we illustrate, because a 
pigeon can roost on the top of it and foul the saucer with its 
droppings. In the fountain which we picture it is impossible 
for droppings to reach the mouth containing the water, even 
if the pigeon is perched directly on top of the fountain. The 
barrel shape of the fountain makes it hard for more than one 
pigeon to perch at the same time on its top, but one pigeon 
usually is found there. He gets there, for the special purpose, 
it seems, of fouling the water, but the fountain beats him 
and he can't do it. Neither can he put his feet into the water 
unless he is an extraordinary gymnast capable of holding his 
body out at an angle to the perpendicular. The result is, 
that in actual practice the water keeps clean, and there is a 
supply of it ready about all the time. A fountain of a gallon 
capacity will keep two or three dozen pairs of breeders supplied 
all day. The fountain is filled by turning it on end and 
pouring water down into the opening. If you fill the fountain 
at the same time you fill the bath pan in the morning, you 
will have done your duty by the pigeons for the day. 

Cleanse these fountains at least once every two weeks 
with scalding hot water containing squab-fe-nol (pigeon 
disinfectant; see our price-list for description). 

The best place for the bath pan is out in the yard of the 
flying pen. A pan fifteen inches in diameter is right for a 
flock up to twelve pairs of birds. The pan should be from 
four to six inches deep, not over six inches, for a pigeon will 



WATER AND FEED 53 

not bathe in water where it would be Hkely to drown if pushed 
or sat on by its mates. Having the bath pan in position on 
the ground of the flying pen, you take to it once each dav, 
in the morning, a bucket of water, and pour the water into the 
pan Then you can go away to business, if you wish. The 
pigeons will fly to the pan from the interior of the house, or 
from the roof, wherever they happen to be. Some will 
splash right in. Others will perch on the rim and drink 
before they bathe. When the water gets dirty, they know 
enough not to drink, unless they are very sorely pressed 
indeed for water. The water gets quite dirty from the bath- 
ing. A thick, greasy, white scum forms. The pigeons do 
not rustle in the dirt, as a hen does, but rely on the water 
to keep them clean and dainty. They flap their wings in the 
water and enjoy it thoroughly. A pigeon will never run 
away from water, as you will discover if when you are water- 
ing your lawn you turn the hose on them. 

Let the dirty water stand in the bath pan all day if you 
choose, or you may go to it an hour or two after you have filled 
the pan, and empty the water. One bath a day is enough. 

If there is a stream of water running through your property 
handy to your squab house, build .your flying pen out over 
it and you need never trouble with bath pans or drinking 
water. If it is a deep stream, you will have to contrive a 
shallow bath tub at the shore, or divert part of the stream 
into a shallow run. The squab raiser with a stream of water 
handy should by all means make use of it and save himself the 
work of carrying water in pails. 

The bath pan may rest in a basin, if you choose, and the 
overflow caused by the splashing of the wings may be con- 
ducted to a sewer and drained away. You may conduct 
water in pipes and have a faucet opening out over the bath 
pan, which faucet you may control either directly or from 
a central station. An easy home-made arrangement to be 
used in conjunction with the bath pan consists of a wet sink 
in which the bath pan sits, and out of which the splashed 
water runs. In the winter it may be advisable to give your 
pigeons their bath in the squab house instead of in the yard 
of the flying pen, in which case you should have some device 
on the wet-sink principle to prevent the floor of the squab 
house from getting damp. 



54 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

In northern latitudes it is not necessary nor desirable for 
the pigeons to bathe on cold winter days. Wait until a warm 
and sunny day comes. It will do the birds no harm to go 
for weeks in the winter without bathing. Many of our 
customers write us that they allow their birds to bathe in the 
winter seldom or not at all. 

Feed may be given to pigeons in a less guarded way, for 
they do not soil the feed dish so freely as they do the drinking 
dishes. You may put the feed in open troughs (or on a flat 
board with a rim around it) in the squab house. If you 
observe them when eating, you w411 notice that they stand up 
to the feed in a somewhat orderly manner and peck at its 
contents. They do not sit in the dish and roll around in the 
feed as they do in the water. But they have one fault when 
eating and that is, to scatter the grains. They will push in 
their bills and toss them around in a search after tidbits, and 
scatter out on the floor kernel after kernel, and it w^ill make 
your bump of economy ache to see this grain scattered around. 
There do not seem to be any neat, saving pigeons which go to 
the floor in the wake of their prodigal brethren and eat the 
crumbs. They all have a fancy for the first table and they 
get right at it and scatter the grain like the rest of their fellows, 
and apparently the pigeon who scatters the most grain is the 
one which struts around with the biggest front. The w^ay 
to fool them is to provide in the squab house a covered trough, 
that is, covered except at the slit or points where they stick 
in their bills for food. With a little ingenuity you can cover 
an ordinary v-shaped trough so that it will be hard for the 
pigeons to w^aste the grain. You may have a self-feeder made 
as big or as small as you choose and in which the grain will 
drop down as it is eaten. 

We will try to present the matter of feed as clearly and 
fully as it seems to us to be possible. A woman in Santa 
Cruz, California, said she would like to raise squabs, and 
would begin by ordering her feed of us, exactly as we recom- 
mended, to be sent to her by freight from Boston via the 
Southern Pacific. A man in Cleveland ordered a quantit}^ of 
red wheat and cracked com to be sent by freight from us, 
when there were thousands of bushels of both staples in 
elevators in his city, in fact most of the Boston supply had 
passed through his city. We did not like to run the chance of 



WATER AND FEED 55 

losing the order for breeding stock either of the woman in 
Santa Cruz or of the gentleman in Cleveland, but we wrote to 
both that they ought not to go into the squalD-raising business 
if they were to be dependent on us for grain, that it was too 
far to send and that if they would look around home they 
could get what they wanted. 

Here in New England we feed to pigeons cracked corn, red 
wheat, hemp-seed, Canada peas, kafhr corn, — the foregoing 
as a rule, and sometimes, when cheap, buckwheat, millet and 
barley. 

It was formerly thought that whole corn was not a good 
food for pigeons, on the theory that the old pigeons would eat 
the large kernels and then, perhaps, feed them to squabs, 
choking them. In practice, not one case in one hundred like 
that will be found. Whole corn is ranch relished by pigeons. 
They will eat it before they will eat anything else, except 
hempseed, and there is no danger in using it. In many 
sections of the country, we find, good cracked corn is not so 
easy to procure as good whole corn. The grain dealers take 
their poor whole corn, sometimes, and work it over into 
cracked corn. Good whole corn speaks for itself and when 
you buy it there is no doubt about it. 

All the time people write to us and say they never heard of 
red wheat. More write and say they don't know what kaffir 
corn is. Others are puzzled by hemp-seed, they have never 
seen any. That is surprising to us here in New England, but 
no doubt we would be just as surprised if we were in our 
customers' places. 

Let us see if we cannot level up the whole country on this 
question of feed for pigeons. As a rule, we say, feed the 
grains which are nearest you. This country has its corn belt, 
its wheat belt, its section where millet is raised. Buckwheat 
is plentiful in another section. For your leading grain, 
your staple, feed corn. The point to remember is to feed a 
variety of grains. Keep this word variety in your mind all 
the time in dealing with your pigeons. Their appetites do 
not grow keen on a monotonous diet, they will not lay the 
eggs they should, and their health will not be good on it. 
Vary the diet. 

In order to find out what grains are convenient to you, go to 
your nearest grain dealer or country general store. The 



56 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

dealer in nine cases out of ten knows nothing about pigeons 
and their feed and if you give him the name of a strange grain, 
he will be liable to shy and say he never heard of it. The 
trouble with him is that he sells horse feed and is accustomed 
to handling only the grains which horses need. He can get 
the grains you wish by writing to his nearest port or railroad 
junction. There is nothing odd or out of the way about the 
grains. They are going from one point to another all the 
time. Sometimes they are scarce at certain periods of the 
year. For instance, nearly every fall there is no kaffir corn 
at a reasonable price obtainable in Boston, so we do not feed 
it to our pigeons then, but cut it out altogether in favor of 
the grains selling at a lower price. Most of the kaffir com 
which we get in Boston comes from Kansas. It is a splendid 
feed for pigeons. It is small and comparatively soft, and their 
crops make easy work of it. It is nourishing and the}^ like 
it. Maybe your grain man sells a mixture for pigeons. If 
you will look in this mixture you will find probably kaffir 
com, as well as buckwheat (in black kernels), also red wheat 
and Canada peas. 

A liberal supply of Canada peas and hemp-seed is necessary 
for a good egg production. 

Do not feed a great excess of corn, in the summer 
time. (By corn, we mean common Indian corn, not kaffir 
corn. Kaffir corn is harmless, even when forced on the 
birds.) The effect of com is to heat the blood. This is what 
you want in the winter time, but not in the summer. 

Red wheat is better than white wheat to feed to pigeons 
because it is not so likely to cause diarrhoea. (See supple- 
ment of this book.) 

Beware of feeding too much wheat. Pigeons fed on an 
excess of wheat are constantly out of condition with continual 
diarrhoea and will lay no eggs while in that state. We recall 
vividly cases of pigeons doing poorly caused by the owner's 
stupidity in feeding too much wheat. One customer in 
Kansas fed nothing but wheat and got his birds so weak that 
they could not fly off the ground. Another in California with 
a flock of over one hundred pairs had not been able in six 
months' time to get more than one quarter of his birds at work. 
He complained bitterly that his birds were " not mated," 
were all cocks, and so on, but after further correspondence 



_.. _ WATER AND FEED^^_ ___ _ _ 57 

disclosed that he was feeding nothing but wheat, with the 
exception of a handful of peas in the middle of the week and 
a handful of hemp-seed on Sunday ! 

A properly balanced ration is necessary to egg production 
in the case of pigeons, same as poultry. 

Wheat is a good regulator for pigeons but corn is the great 
fattener and the main staple. 

When anybody fails with pigeons, if you pick up and handle 
the birds you will find in nine cases out of ten that they have 
sharp breastbones, which means that they are improperly 
nourished, out of condition, and of course cannot produce 
eggs because. they have not the blood and fat to do it. 

All the grains which you feed should be old, hard, dry and 
sweet. If they smell sour or taste bad to your own tongue, 
don't feed them to your pigeons. Above all, keep your grain 
dry. If you have the grain stored in bins which are damp 
from ground water, or which catch the drippings from the 
eaves, or through holes in the roof, first you will get sour grain 
and then some of the grain will sprout, and this sprouted grain 
will derange the bowels of your birds and bring on dysentery. 
Do not let rank little growths spring up in a dirty squab house 
or in the yard of your flying pen. Pigeons will peck at green 
leaves and grass and will not be harmed, but do not give them 
a chance to peck up sprouted grain and eat the sprout, grain 
and all, for if they do they will have diarrhoea. A pigeon in 
good condition and busy with a nest ordinarily will not touch 
a nasty little green sprout, but in the moulting season, when 
pigeons are in the dumps generally, and feeling like having a 
stimulant, they will experiment with these sprouts. Keep 
the floor of your squab house clean and the yard of the flying 
pen raked up and you need not worry about this matter. 

Ground oyster shell should be placed in a box handy for the 
pigeons to get at. The purpose of this oyster shell is to 
provide the constituents of the eggshell. The female pigeon 
needs it in order to form the Qgg. 

Grit is needed by the pigeons to enable them to reduce to 
powder the feed which they take into their crops The 
muscles of the crop work the grit on the grains and reduce 
the grains so that they mix with the digestive fluids. Cart 
two or three bushels of gravel or sharp sand into your flying 
pen and cover the ground with it. It is not necessary to 




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WATER AND FEED 59 

cover the whole space of the ground of the flying pen. For 
fuller discussion of shells and grit, see supplement. 

It is poor policy to mix anything but wheat and 
com together. If you make a mixture of peas and hemp- 
seed with cracked corn and wheat, you will find that the 
pigeons, will dig down after the peas and hemp-seed and toss 
the other grain around and waste it. The only mixture, 
therefore, which we feed is a mixture of wheat and corn. 
Fill the self-feeder with whole corn and wheat, in the propor- 
tion of three parts of the corn to one of wheat. 

We call the wheat and corn staples, because with 
us in New England they form the major part of the diet, and 
are the cheapest. The hemp-seed, buckwheat, Canada peas, 
kaffir corn, millet and barley we call dainties. We do not 
feed much millet, because we have the other grains, which 
are cheapest, but some of our customers in the millet sections 
of the country feed a good deal of millet. In such cases they 
look on millet as one of their staples, and the hard-to-get 
grains are classed by them as dainties. The staple grains of 
which you will feed the most to your pigeons are the ones 
which are the cheapest for you. The more expensive grains 
will be classed by you as dainties. 

A good way to feed the dainties is to throw them out on 
the floor of the squab house by hand. You will see the 
pigeons make a rush for them and eat them with as much 
relish as a child eats candy. You should feed the dainties 
about three times a week, throwing handfuls on the floor 
until you see that the pigeons are satisfied and do not care for 
any more. 

Do not throw any feed on the ground of the flying pen, for 
the earth is liable to be damp, and this dampness will sour 
the grain, especially cracked corn, and if the pigeons eat it, 
they will get sour crops, and the fluids from the sour crops of 
the parent pigeons will make the squabs sick and perhaps kill 
them. Do all your feeding in the squab house and your 
pigeons will not have sour crops. 

Do not lay in a big stock of cracked com at a time, for 
cracked com exposed to sudden changes of the weather is 
liable to take up dampness, and sour. Smell and taste it once 
a week or so and determine to your own satisfaction that it 
is not sour. 



60 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Some squab breeders feed twice a day, as much as the birds 
will eat up clean, but we do not believe in that system of 
feeding. Our own success, and the success of our customers 
in squab raising, is based largely on the fact that we insist on 
a continuous supply of food for the pigeons, when they are 
breeding. Use the self-feeder only with birds that are pro- 
ducing squabs. A new flock should be fed by hand twice 
daily what they will eat up clean in ten minutes. Keep them 
eager, active and racy. Do not let them get too fat, for if 
you do they will not start laying. Some beginners will use 
up weeks trying to get their birds started, others get all their 
pairs going in a few days. It is a matter of skillful feeding, 
exactly as in the case of hens. The best of mated pairs will 
not produce eggs unless nourished, because the act of copula- 
tion, as in the case of hens and roosters, has nothing to do 
with the volume of egg production, but only with the fertility 
of eggs. 

Food should be at hand in the self-feeder for birds which 
are breeding. They do not gorge, as a horse will if an un- 
limited supply of food is set before him. They are not 
gluttons, like pigs. They do not lose their racy shape. A 
squab when hungry will squeak loudly to inform its parents 
of that fact and if you observe a squab house where the two 
meals a day are in vogue, you will note quite a chorus of 
squeaks. In a house where there is feed always at hand, 
you will not hear many hungry squeaks. It is greatly to 
your interest that the crops of your young birds be filled with 
food. The more their crops are stuffed with food, the quicker 
they will fatten and the fatter they will get. The parent 
birds should at all times be able to fill up their crops with feed 
and water and then fly to the nest to disgorge for the benefit 
of the squabs. 

Squab breeders differ concerning self-feeders, same as 
mothers differ about ways of bringing up babies. Each squab 
breeder thinks his method of feeding is the best. We speak 
not wholly from our own experience, but the experiences of 
thousands of customers extending over many years. There 
was formerly the same prejudice against self-feeders for 
poultry, until a man in Ohio, raising poultry with striking 
success by the aid of self-feeders, made his brethren sit up and 
take notice. In our stories of success printed at the back of 



WATER AND FEED 61 

this book and elsewhere, are many cases of small flocks 
increased enormously, and the writers take pains to state 
that they are using the self-feeder. That is talk that means 
something. The loudest advocate of no self-feeder is the 
man who is trying hard to sell his Homers by some kind of a 
story different from what we tell. It does not matter to him 
what he says, so long as he combats us. It is the game of such 
chaps to contradict all others and pose as the only real, 
simon-pure know-it-alls on pigeons. 

Some small parent Homers are such good feeders, such good 
fathers and mothers, that they stuff their squabs with grain 
and bring them up to a surprising fatness. We have had 
pairs of squabs which actually at four weeks of age were 
bigger than their parents. This is not surprising when you 
think that the squabs sit in their nest hour after hour doing 
nothing but accumulate fat, and taking no exercise to train 
off this fat. The old birds are flying around and do not have 
much fat on them; they are trim and muscular, and hard 
fleshed. You can tell an old pigeon after it is cooked when 
you put your teeth into it, just as you can tell an old fowl. 

Provide salt for your pigeons to keep them strong and 
healthy. The safest kind of salt for you to use is rock salt, 
such as is sold for horses. Put a couple of big lumps of it in 
the squab house and let the pigeons peck at it when they wish. 
Put two more lumps out in the flying pen. When rain comes 
the water will wash some salt off the lumps into the gravel. 
(Empty the bath pans upon the lumps of salt.) The pigeons 
will eat this salt-impregnated gravel all around the lumps for 
an inch or so down into the ground. 

Do not feed powdered salt, for if you do the birds may eat 
too much of it and it will kill them. Coarse ground salt may 
be used, but the rock salt is best. 

Some green stuff is much relished by pigeons. It is good 
for them and will increase the ^gg, and, consequently, squab 
production. They are very fond of cabbage now and then, 
which should be chopped fine before being fed. (We mean 
raw, not cooked, cabbage.) When vines grow over the flying 
pen, they will be seen pecking at the green leaves. Green 
clover may be cut up and fed to them in conjunction with 
grain. It should be remembered that green stuff, as enu- 
merated in this paragraph, is fed only as a relish. 



62 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Table scraps, or what is commonly known as swill, should 
not be fed to pigeons. 

Rice may be fed, if plentiful and cheap. It has a tendency 
to correct diarrhoea caused by too much wheat. 

Some of our customers have been influenced by adverse 
criticism of our self-feeder to abandon it and feed in open 
troughs, but they have gone back to the self-feeder. One of 
these customers was Mr. Tyson, who started with several 
hundred pairs of our birds three years ago and now (1907) has 
the largest and best* plant in the State of New Hampshire. 
His wife and son, with himself, have attained a high degree of 
skill and proficiency in the handling of their pigeons. The 
squabs they are breeding weigh at least nine pounds to the 
dozen. They ship to New York City, where they get very 
high prices. Mr. Tyson started by using the self-feeder for 
grain, as we advise, but being influenced by something seen in 
print, abandoned it and gave the open-trough method of feed- 
ing, twice or three times a day, a thorough trial. Immediately 
the birds began to fall off in production, and the squabs fell 
off in weight, some lots getting so skinny as to lose nearly two 
pounds to the dozen. That experience was enough. The 
Tysons went back to the self-feeder and now their squabs are 
plump, as they were in the first place, the old birds are in 
better condition, and breeding better. 

Do not put into the self-feeder a great lot of grain, but only 
enough to last about two days. A great quantity is liable to 
take up moisture in a spell of rainy weather and go stale, and 
is not relished by the birds as if (x, were supphed fresh every 
two or three days. 



CHAPTER VI . 

LAYING AND HATCHING. 

Laying an Egg is under the Control of the Pigeon's Mind — 
Fertile and Infertile Eggs — How the Cock Drives the Hen — 
One Day between Eggs — Hatch after Seventeen Days 
— How Squabs are Fed by the Paren' Birds — Mating 
Males and Females — Use of the Mating Coop — Determina- 
tion of Sex — Color of Feathers Has No Effect on Color of 
Flesh — Pigeons Left to Themselves Will Not Inbreed — No 
Inbreeding Necessary even if you Start wi'h a Small Flock. 

The hen pigeon builds the nest. When the nest is built, 
the cock begins to " drive " the hen around the house and 
pen. In a flock of breeding pigeons you always will see one 
or two cocks " driving " their mates, pecking at them and 
nagging them with the purpose of forcing them onto the nest 
to lay the eggs. The cock seems to take more interest in the 
coming family than the hen. 

The hen lays one egg in the nest, then skips a da}^ and lays 
the second egg on the third day. Seventeen days after being 
laid the eggs hatch. The egg first laid hatches a day before 
the second, sometimes, but usually the parents do not sit 
close on the first egg, but stand over it, and do not incubate 
it. Sometimes one squab may get more than its share of 
food, and the younger one will weaken and die. This seldom 
happens but if you see one squab considerably larger than the 
other, the thing to do is to exchange with a squab from 
another nest that is nearer the size of the remaining squab. 
The old birds will not notice the change but will continue 
feeding the foster squab. 

The process of laying an egg is a mental operation. We 
mean by this that it is not a process which goes on regularly 
in spite of all conditions. The hen forms the egg in her body 
and lays it when she is in condition to, and when she wants 
to, not when she is forced to. In other words, the hen lays 
when conditions are satisfactory to her. That she forms the 
egg at will is proven by many things, principally b}^ the fact 
that she allows one day to come in between the first and 

63 



THE QUICK GROWTH OF SQUABS FROM EGGS TO KILLING AGE 

IN FOUR WEEKS IS ILLUSTRATED ON THIS PAGE, 

PAGE 66 AND PAGE 68. 




EGGS IN THE NEST. 




SQUABS JUST HATCHED. 



64 



LAYING AND HATCHING 65 

the second eggs. No doubt, after she has laid the first egg, 
she hurries tlie other along and lays it as soon after the first 
as she can, and it takes forty-eight hours for the egg, complete 
in its wonderful construction, to form. Hen pigeons in a ship- 
ping crate or close coop do not lay eggs, because they know 
that there are no facilities there for raising young. Once in 
a while you will find an egg in a shipping crate when the 
birds are taken out, but it is a comparatively rare occurrence. 

Of course, in order to lay a fertile egg, the hen pigeon 
must have received the attention of the cock bird. It is 
common for a hen pigeon at five months, and sometim.es 
four, to lay an egg, but as a rule those first eggs from a young 
hen are not fertile because she has not yet mated with the 
cock bird. After a hen pigeon has reached six months of age, 
and is paired with a male, it is safe to assume as an almost 
invariable rule that the eggs she lays will be fertile. When 
the male bird gets to be six to ten years old, he may lose his 
vitality, and the eggs laid by his mate will not be fertile. 
Then it is necessary to provide the female with a new mate. 
The breeders we sell are of prime breeding age, from eight 
months to eighteen months old, and the eggs laid by hens 
of that age will be fertile and of full size, and the squabs 
bred from them will not be scraw^ny and lacking in vitality. 

From the day of its hatching to market time the squab 
is fed by its parents. The first food is a liquid secreted in 
the crop of both cock and hen, and called pigeons' milk. 
The parent pigeons open their bills and the squabs thrust 
their bills within to get sustenance. This supply of pigeons' 
milk lasts from five to six days. It gradually grows thicker 
and in a week is found to be mixed with corn and wheat in small 
particles. When about ten days old, the squabs are eating 
hard grain from the crops of the mature cock and hen. They 
fill up at the trough, then take a drink of water and fly to 
the nest to minister to the little ones. You see how im- 
portant it is to have food available at all times. 

In fourteen, fifteen or sixteen davs after the first pair of 
squabs have been hatched, the cock begins " driving " the 
hen again. This shows the necessity of a second nest for the 
pair. In this second nest the hen lays two more eggs, and 
the care of the first pair of squabs, now between two and three 
weeks old, devolves upon the cock. When this pair is four 




SQUABS ONE WEEK OLD. 




SQUABS TWO WEEKS OLD. 



LAYING AND HATCHING 67 

weeks old, it is taken out of the nest and killed and both the 
mature birds are concerned then only with the new hatch. 
This sequence of eggs and hatches goes on all the time. 

If there are not two nests, the two new eggs will be laid in 
the nest where are the growing squabs. The parents in their 
eagerness to sit on the new eggs will push the squabs out of 
the nest and they will die for lack of sustenance. 

The hen lays the eggs about four o'clock in the afternoon. 
The cock and hen take turns at covering the eggs, the hen 
sitting during the night until about ten o'clock in the morning, 
when the cock relieves her, remaining on until the latter part 
of the afternoon. 

When the squabs are taken out for market at the end of four 
weeks, the nest bowl and nest box should be cleaned. If 
this cleaning is done once a week, no trouble from parasites 
will result. In the summer it is well to add a little carbolic 
acid to the whitewash as an extra precaution. Sprinkle 
unslaked lime on the floor of the squab house and in the nest 
boxes, and spray squab-fe-nol freely. 

One way of mating or pairing pigeons is to turn males and 
females in equal number into the same pen. They will seek 
their own mates and settle down to steady reproduction. 
Another method is to place the male and female which you 
wish to pair in a mating coop or hutch. In the course of a few 
days they will mate or pair and then you may turn them loose 
in the big pen with the others. The latter method is necessary 
when improving your flock by the addition of new blood, or 
when keeping a positive record of the ancestry of each pair. 
By studying your matings, you ma}^ improve the efficiency 
of your flock. 

In the case of a new flock of pigeons shipped to a new 
home, all do not go to work at the same time. Those pairs 
which get to work first are bothered by the slower pairs. To 
judge from the advertisements of some breeders, anxious to 
claim everything for their birds and their wonderful matings, 
the beginner would think that all the birds he buys from them 
will go to work immediately when released in their new home. 
This is far from the truth. The pairs will go to work to suit 
themselves as to time. Some will be quick, others slow. As 
fast as each pair goes to work, it should be caught and placed 
in the breeding pen. The first pen, into which the birds 




SQUABS THREE WEEKS OLD. 




SQUABS FOUR WEEKS OLD. 
Ready to be killed for Market. 



68 



LAYING AND HATCHING 69 

were put on arrival, then can be used for the rearing pen for 
youngsters raised in the breeding pen. 

In case a pigeon loses its mate by death or accident, the sex 
of the dead one must be ascertained. The live one should be 
removed from the pen and placed in the mating coop with a 
pigeon of the opposite sex. 

The mating coop should have a partition of lattice work or 
wire. Place the cock in one side, the hen in the other, and 
leave them thus for two or three days to flirt and tease each 
other, then remove the central lattice work or wire and they 
usually will pair, or mate. If they show no disposition to 
pair but on the contrary fight, replace the partition and try 
them for two or three days longer. If they refuse to pair 
after two or three thorough trials, do not experiment any 
more with them, but select other mates. 

The determination of the sex of pigeons is difhcult. The 
bones at the vent of a female are as a rule wider apart 
than of a male. If you hold the beak of a pigeon in one 
hand and the feet in the other, stretching them out, the 
male bird usually will hug his tail close to its body — - the 
female will throw her tail. The best way to determine the sex 
is to watch the birds. The male is more lively than the 
female, and does more cooing, and in flirting with her usually 
turns around several timxcs, while the female seldom turns 
more than half way around. The male may be seen pecking 
at the female and driving her to nest. When one pigeon is 
seen chasing another inside and outside the squab house, 
the driven one is the female and the driver her mate. 

Neither the squab breeder nor the flying-Homer breeder 
is much concerned about the color of feathers. There are 
blue checkers, red checkers, black checkers, silver, blue, 
brown, red, in fact about all the colors of the rainbow. Color 
has no relation to the ability of a pair to breed a large pair of 
squabs. We wish specially to emphasize the fact that the 
color of the feathers has no influence on the color of the skin 
of the squab. A white feathered bird does not mean a white- 
skinned squab. The feed affects the color of the meat a kittle. 
A corn-fed pigeon will be yellower than one fed on a mixture. 
Squabs with dark skins (almost black in some cases) are the 
product of blood matings. The trouble with a dark-colored 
squab is in the blood and the only remedy is to get rid of them 



■UillWk . n 



THE MATING COOP. 
One way of matins squab breeders is to tura cocks and hens in equal numbers 
into the same Den. The m tting coon is used whea the breeder vdshes to pair a 
certain male AAith a certain female. The above matin? coop is divided by a partition. 
The cock is placed on one side of the partition, the hen on the other, as pictured. 
They are left thus for a day or two to tease each other. Then roise the partition, 
or take it out. and allow them to approach each other when they usuplly will be 
found to have formed an attachment. This bein? the case, they may be pi't into 
the larere pen with the other birds, wliere they will find a nest box and ?o to house- 
keepine:. If they fieht when the partition is removed, try attain, or try other mates. 
The coop pictured above is two feet Ions, one foot \\ide and one foot deep. 



70 



LAYING AND HATCHING 71 

either by killing the parents or by remating. Usually the 
trouble comes from one parent bird, which you find by turning 
up the feathers and examining the skin. Having found the 
bird which is at fault, kill it. This point has come up con- 
tinually in our correspondence. The erroneous belief that 
white-feathered birds produce the whitest-skinned squabs 
seems to be widespread and we are asked sometimes for a 
flock of breeders " all white." Our experience with all white 
Homers is that they are smaller and have less stamina than 
the colored ones. The marketmen will take two or three pairs 
of dark-skinned squabs in a bunch without comment, but 
an excess of dark ones will provoke a cut in price. Breeders 
who are shipping only the undressed squabs should pluck 
feathers now and then to see just what color of squabs they 
are getting. The dark-colored squabs are just as good eating 
as the light-colored ones, but buyers for the hotels and clubs, 
and those who visit the stalls, generally pick out the plump 
white-skinned squabs in preference to the plump dark-skinned 
ones. As a rule, squabs from Homer pigeons are white- 
skinned — the dark-colored squab is an exlception. 

Manv beginners wish to know if it will be all right for them 
to buy a flock and keep it in one house for six months or a 
year, paying no attention to the mating or pairing of the 
young birds, but leaving that to themselves, so as to get 
without much trouble a large flock before the killing of the 
squabs for market begins. Certainly, you may do this, 
providing extra nest boxes from time to time until your 
squab house has been filled with nests; then you will have 
to provide overflow quarters. We are asked if the flock will 
not become weakened by inbreeding, that is, a brother bird 
mating up to a sister, by chance. According to the law of 
chances, such matings would take place not very often. 
Pigeons in a wild state, on the face of a cliff, or in an abandoned 
building, would pair by natural selection. The stronger 
bird gets the object of its affection, the weaker one is killed 
off or gets a weaker mate, whose young are shorter-lived, so 
the inevitable result is more strength and larger size. Nature 
works slowly, if surely. A lot of pigeons in one pen mating or 
pairing as they please when old enough is the natural way, 
and if you follow this, you cannot go very far wrong. We 
advocate matings by the breeder because it hurries Nature 



72 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

along the path which makes most money for the breeder. 
We all know how Darwin studied natural and forced selection 
of pigeons. He took one pigeon with a certain peculiarity, 
say a full breast, and mated it to another pigeon with a full 
breast. The squabs from these birds, when grown, had 
breasts fuller than their parents. Then these in turn were 
mated to full-breasted pigeons from other parents, and the 
grandchildren had even larger breasts. Darwin's experi- 
ments covered a period of over twenty years and in this time he 
developed little faults and peculiarities to an amazing degree. 
Every intelligent, careful pigeon breeder is striving by his 
forced matings to push along the path of progress the peculiar- 
ity in pigeons which is his specialty. The breeder who selects 
most carefully and keeps at it the longest wins over the 
others. By selecting from, your best and most prolific 
breeders the biggest and fattest squabs, keeping them for 
breeders and mating so as to get something larger and plumper, 
you are all the time getting bigger squabs. Every breeder 
of squabs has it in his power to increase the efficiency of his 
flock by stud3dng his matings. There is commerical satis- 
faction in breeding for size and plumpness because it pays 
at once, and at the same time the breeder has the satisfaction 
of increasing the stamina and variety of pigeons. 

To be master of the matings, the breeder should band his 
squabs. As scon as they are weaned (that is, as soon as the 
breeder sees them flying to the feed and eating it) they should 
be taken and put into one of the rearing pens. When about 
six months old, the breeder should begin mating them by 
selection, using the mating coop, then when they are mated 
turn the pair into a working pen with other adult birds. By 
looking at the number on the band of each bird, then on your 
record card, a^ou know how to avoid mating up brother and 
sister. 

When the young birds are just over four v.^eeks old, or 
between four and six weeks, they are able to fly a little, and 
if they do not hop out of the nest (or are not pushed out by 
the parents) you may push them out yourself. They are 
now able to feed themselves. If these young birds are left 
in the squab house, they will bother the old birds by begging 
for food, and this infantile nagging will hinder the regular 
breeders in their next hatch, so the verv best thins: to do is 



LAYING AND HATCHING 73 

to put the young birds by themselves into a rearing pen, 
where they cannot bother anybody. 

Of course there is hkely to be a httle inbreeding when you 
leave the birds to choose for themselves, but not much. If 
the breeder has not the time to make forced matings, then 
he may not care to make them. Remember in mating that 
like begets like. The parent bird that feeds its young the 
most, and most often, will raise the biggest squab. Some- 
times a parent bird will have fine nursing abilities and will 
stuff its offspring with food. These good-feeding qualities 
are transmitted from one generation to another and are as 
much under the control of the breeder as size and flesh-color. 
Your biggest squabs will be found to have an extra-attentive 
father or mother, or both. A pigeon with a dark skin, if 
mated to a white-skinned bird will produce a mulatto-like 
squab. It is the large, fat, white-fleshed squab which you are 
after. Disregard the color of the feathers when mating. 
If when plucking your squabs you come across a "nigger," 
that is, a squab with a dark skin, find out what pair of breeders 
it came from and whether the cock or the hen is at fault, 
and get rid of the faulty one. It is important to start with 
adult birds that are not related, then you will not begin 
inbreeding. That is why we make a special effort with our 
adult birds to have them unrelated. 

Some letters from customers make plain to us that a clear 
knowledge of what inbreeding means is not possessed by 
everybody. Several have written to this effect: " If I buy 
two or three dozen pairs from you to start, how can I increase 
the size of my flock without inbreeding?" When (1) a 
brother is mated to sister or (2) a father to a daughter, or (3) 
a mother to a son, or (4) a grandson to his grandmother, etc. 
that is inbreeding. We know it is forbidden by law for 
human beings to mate in that manner, because (a) God in the 
Scriptures has forbidden it, and (h) because the State does 
not wish to have to care for the puny, weak-minded offspring 
that would result from such unions. We all know that the 
marriages of cousins often result in demented, diseased chil- 
dren. Now suppose you buy two dozen pairs of pigeons of 
us, and number them pairs one to twenty-four. If you mate 
the offspring of pair two (or any other pair) to the offspring of 
pair one (or any other pair) that is outbreeding or cross- 



74 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

breeding. What you do not do, and what you try to prevent, 
is the mating of the offspring of pair number one (or any other 
pair) to each other. So, you see, if you have a dozen or two 
pairs, you need never inbreed, for there is an infinite variety 
of matings possible. Breeders of animals sometimes inbreed 
purposely in order to get better color of fur or plumage, or 
finer bones, etc. There are no brothers and sisters in the 
flocks we sell. If you buy one dozen or twenty dozen pairs 
of breeders of us, the pairs will be unrelated, and you need 
never inbreed. We never heard a real pigeon breeder worry 
much about inbreeding, because the likelihood of it in a flock 
of even a dozen pairs is extremely remote, as we have demon- 
strated above. 




PIGEONS IN ST. MARK'S SQUARE, VENICE. 
Get acquainted \Yith the pigeons which you buy of us, and let them get ac- 
quainted with you. They will work all the better for being tame and docile. These 
pigeons in Venice are fed bj' tourists on corn only. A peddler selling whole corn 
for two cents a package sits all day long on the steps at the base of the monument. 
Several photographers in the square make a specialty of taking pictures of tourists 
feeding the pigeons; snap shots by amateurs are constantly being made. In tliis 
city of canals, these pigeons get no gilt, in fact nothinsr but the corn, and they would 
die if obliged to pick up a li^ing for themselves. They are healthy, proving the 
incorrectness of the assertion that a feed of notliing but corn will cause canker. 
They are small, however, of stunted growth. They are so tame that they will perch 
on your hand and eat grains of corn held in your lips. 



CHAPTER VII . 

INCREASE OF FLOCK. 

It is Possible to Breed One Pair of Squabs Each Month, but 
in Actual Practice this is Seldom Attained — The Squab 
Raiser with Pure Thoroughbred Homers should Count on 
Six to Nine Pairs of Squabs a Year — The Common Pigeon 
Breeds Only Four or Five Pairs of Squabs a Year, but 
Eats as Much or More than the Homer- — Differences 
between the Homer and the Common Pigeon — -Good Homers 
Scarce and the Market for them Firm, and Steady. 

It is theoretically possible for a pair of pigeons to breed 
twelve pairs of squabs a year, for it takes only seventeen 
days for the eggs to hatch, and the hen goes to laying again 
when the hatch is only two weeks old. So, if you start with 
twelve pairs of Homer pigeons, and they should breed one 
pair of squabs a month, at the end of the first month you 
would have twenty-four squabs; at the end of the second 
month, forty-eight squabs; at the end of the third month, 
seventy-two squabs; at the end of the fourth month, ninety- 
six squabs; at the end of the fifth month, one hundred and 
twenty squabs. Now the first lot of squabs which your birds 
hatched will be ready to mate and lay eggs, so at the end of 
the sixth month you should have one hundred and sixty- 
eight squabs; at the end of the seventh month, two hundred 
and forty squabs; at the end of the eighth month, three 
hundred and thirty-six squabs; at the end of the ninth 
month, four hundred and fifty-six squabs; at the end of the 
tenth month, six hundred squabs; at the end of the eleventh 
month, seven hundred and sixty-eight squabs, and at the end 
of the twelfth month, nine hundred and sixty squabs. Such 
figures are purely theoretical and are seldom attained in actual 
practice. You will have some pairs in your flock which 
will raise ten and eleven pairs of squabs a year, but the 
average will be seven to nine pairs of squabs a year. If you 
get less, your flock is not pure thoroughbred Homers, or your 
feeding and nesting arrangements are wrong. In our visit 
to squab breeders in 1902, we asked every one with whom 

75 



76 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

we talked how many pairs a year he was getting from his 
birds, and about all of them said seven to nine. This expe- 
rience corresponds with ours. We remember particularly 
an old gentleman, Preacher Hubbell, in Vineland, who had 
been in the squab business for years but was just going out 
of it, having sold his place, pigeons and all, to a Swede farmer. 
He told us he had always made squabs pay him and that his 
birds, of which he kept a careful record, raised him nine 
pairs to the year right along. 

It is a well-known fact that the common pigeon will breed 
only four or five pairs of squabs a year, and if handlers of big 
flocks of common pigeons, like Johnson of California, can make 
a net profit of one dollar per pair a year from such low breeders, 
we think anybody of no experience is justified in believing 
our statement that our Homers are capable of earning a net 
profit of from tv/o to three dollars per pair a year, taking into 
account not only their fast breeding qualities, but the superior 
size of the squabs. Here in New England we consider the 
common pigeons inconstant and happy-go-lucky breeders. 
They are not in the same class at all with the Homer pigeon. 

The common pigeon, the pigeon which flies the streets of 
our cities and towns, is a mixture of all kinds of pigeons, and 
it partakes of the faults of each, and not of the virtues. Its 
outward appearance is large, but it is an effect of feathers and 
not of flesh. Its feathers are loose and fluffy and its muscles 
soft and flabby. Its head is smaller than that of a Homer, 
the deficiency being marked in the curve of the skull which 
covers the brain. The Homer has a white flesh ring around 
the eye, but the common pigeon has none. The Homer has 
the largest brain of any variety of pigeon, and discloses this 
fact by its behavior. It has more sense and behaves with 
more intelligence. Its wonderful homing instinct marks 
it above and beyond all classes of pigeons and it is this quality 
which gives it a commercial value all over the world. The 
feathers of the Homer are laid close like a woman's glove and 
the muscles under it feel as hard and firm as a piece of wood. 
Its breast is firm and well protected, with just the right amount 
of fullness. Its chest is large, indicating good lung power and 
staying qualities. Its wings are trim and shapely, in flight 
the poetry of motion. The poise of its body and head reminds 
one of a race-horse listening for the signal to speed over the 



INCREASE OF FLOCK 77 

course. The lines from the neck to the body descend in a 
long, graceful sweep. Put a thoroughbred Homer into a 
flock of common pigeons and even a novice, if told to pick out 
the bird which would fly the fastest and furthest, would pick 
out the Homer. The Homer has a long bill (but not so long 
as the Dragoon pigeon). The bill of the common pigeon is 
short. Its bill is more hooked and is sharper pointed. Its 
head is shorter and more rounding on top. 

The common pigeon is seldom bred in captivity, because it 
does not pay for the grain which it consumes. If bred in a 
wild state, it picks up a living in the neighborhood, the owner 
not keeping it wired in. It is the cheapest kind of a pigeon, 
and thousands of pairs are used by trap shooters. Under- 
takers sometimes buy the white common pigeons in order to 
liberate them at graves, to signify the ascent of the soul to 
heaven. Common pigeons will live anywhere, do not get 
attached to any home, but a Homer never forgets the place 
where it was bred and will search out its home in long flights. 
Common pigeons will alight on any building and will drink 
from different springs and wells, fouling them and making 
themselves a nuisance in a neighborhood. The Homer will 
alight only on its own squab house and drink only at its own 
home. Common pigeons sell for fifty cents a pair and are 
frequently oft'ered as Homers. Do not start with common 
pigeons and think to learn the habits of squab breeders with 
them. If you cross a common with a Homer pigeon you will 
take away the good qualities of the Homer and add nothing. 
There is not one element in a common pigeon which if added 
to a Homer would improve the offspring. It is hard to 
convince some people that there is any difference in pigeons 
whose feathers are the same color. The result is they buy 
the cheapest they can get. After feeding them for a time and 
getting no profitable results, they are compelled to sell them 
to the first trap shooter who comes along, and they go among 
their townspeople declaring that the pigeon business is no 
good. Remember this point, that if you are going to buy 
grain and feed it to anything so as to get a profit, it is the 
best policy to feed it to that grade of animal which will show 
the largest profit. Very few people are satisfied with shoddy 
suits nowadays, even if they look almost as well ag the all- 
wool garments. It is the wear which the customer is after. 



78 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Beware of shoddy pigeons. Buy the best Homers you can 
get, they wih wear best and give you the most pride. Ex- 
perienced poultrymen do not go here and there looking for 
fowls at cut prices. They buy breeding stock of a reliable 
breeder which is reliable and sold at a price which will enable 
the seller to deliver a high quality article. We can tell when 
an order for our breeding stock comes from an old poultry- 
man, for they all write: " I want the best stock you can give 
me." 

Good Homers do not glut the markets. They are always 
fairly scarce, and the price for them has always been well 
kept up. Beware of cheap Homers for sale at cut prices. 
There is always something the matter with such birds. Thc}^ 
have been worked too long and are played out, or if a flock 
is offered " at a bargain," the birds do not produce the large, 
plump. No. 1 squab, but only culls. If a squab breeder is 
going to quit the business and offers you his fiock of birds on 
the bargain counter, make him give a good reason to you for 
selling. If he has been unable to make the fiock pay, you may 
be sure that you will be unable to make them pay. If he 
offers them to you without a good reason for selling, the 
chances are that it is a poor flock and he has got tired of buying 
grain for them, and wishes to saddle the burden upon you. We 
are always selling breeders and it is very much to our interest 
to protect our reputation by sending out only good Homers 
that will make money for their owners. This is what we 
do, and our large business has been built up by square dealing, 
and knowing the business thoroughly. 

A pair of Homers capable of earning a pair of squabs in one 
month which will sell for at least fifty cents is worth more than 
one dollar or one dollar and twenty-five cents a pair. A pair 
of birds capable of earning only a ten-cent or twenty-cent 
pair of squabs once in two or three months is worth only 
fifty cents a pair. Jersey cows are worth more than common 
cows because they earn more. Good Homer pigeons, bred 
skilfully, are worth more than poor Homers because they 
earn more. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

KILLING AND COOLING. 

Kill the Squabs in the Morning when their Crops are Empty 
— Not Necessary to Use a Knife, their Necks may he 
Tweaked — Drive the Animal Heat out of their Bodies by. 
Hanging them from Nails — The Ideal Squab when 
Shipped has an Empty Crop, its Feet have been Washed 
Clean, and No Blood Shows — Sorting Squabs so as to Get 
the Highest Price from the Dealer. 

The time to kill the squabs is in the morning, when the 
crops are empty. In killing them it is not necessary to use 
a knife. Hold each squab in the manner shown in the 
illustration and break the neck with a sudden pull and push. 
Do not pull too hard or you will sever the neck from the body. 
Some of our customers have hard work to get this knack of 
tweaking the necks and prefer to wring the necks, or to use a 
knife. To wring the neck, hold the squab by the head in 
the right hand and throw the body around in a complete 
circle, this act twisting and breaking the neck. 

After the squabs are killed they must be cooled. In other 
words the animal heat must be driven out of their bodies. 
Provide a piece of board or studding eight or ten feet long and 
every four inches along this studding drive a couple of nine 
penny wire finish nails close together, but not so close that 
you cannot squeeze in the legs of the squabs. A finish wire 
nail has no large head like an ordinary wire nail. Suspend 
the studding from the ceiling by means of wire adjusted at 
both ends of the studding. This method of hanging it up is 
to prevent rats and cats from climbing up onto the studding, 
walking along it and eating the squabs. Place the feet 
of the squabs between the wire nails and let them hang down- 
wards over night. In the morning the heat will be all out of 
their bodies and you can pack and ship them. If you are 
delivering plucked squabs to market, you do not need such 
an arrangement, but will throw the bodies into a tub of ice 
water (or cold spring water) after you have plucked them. 

When plucking the feathers from the killed squabs, the 

79 




INCORRECT POSITION OF HANDS. 




CORRECT POSITION OF HANDS. 
A squab is killed for market when it is plump and well feathered, usually when 
four weeks old, although many are ready for market when a day or two over three 
weeks old. Hold the hands close together on the neck, as shown in the bottom 
picture and break the spine of the bird by pulling firmly and then pushing back. 
Do not put so much strength into the operation that you pull the head from the body. 
This method of killing is faster and neater than using a knife. 



80 



KILLING AND COOLING 81 

operator should moisten his thumb and forefinger in a basin 
of water, to give him a grip on the feathers. They come off 
easily and an experienced picker will work very rapidly. A 
sharp pen-knife, or knife such as shoemakers use, is necessary 
to remove some of the pin feathers. They should be shaved 
off. 

Ignorance of how to cool the killed squabs properly has 
discouraged many a squab raiser. If you throw the squabs 
m a pile on the floor after you have tweaked their necks, you 
will have a fermenting mass and the following morning, 
when you are ready to ship, many of the bodies will be dark- 
colored at the place of contact with the floor, or with other 
squabs, and decay will start from such discolored places. 
Hang the bodies from the studding, as we have described, and 
you wU cool them just right and you will be surprised that 
this part of the business ever could have discouraged anybody. 

If you number the nails which you have driven into the 
studding you will know just how many squabs you hang up, 
and you will not have to handle the squabs a second time to 
count them. 

The ideal squab v/hich brings the highest price in the market 
is not only large and plump, but has a clean crop, so that no 
food will be left in it to sour. No blood shows anywhere on 
the body and its feet are clean. Ship in small quantities, 
especia.lly in the summer. Do not pack in an enormous box, 
or the bottom layers will suffer. 

A squab should be killed, as we have stated, when from 
three to four weeks old, most generally at four weeks. Do 
not wait until it is five or six weeks old, when it may have left 
the nest. As soon as a squab is old enough to get out of the 
nest and walk around on the floor of the squab house, it 
quickly trains off its fat and grows lean and slender. Its 
flesh also loses its pure white co or and takes on a darker 
shade. You do not want either of these two conditions. 

If you tie up your killed squabs by the feet when shipping 
to market, do not tie a lean with a fat squab, for if you do the 
dealer probably will give you the price of the lean one. Put 
the fat squabs in one bunch and the lean squabs in another 
bunch. If you are shipping to two dealers, you can very 
often get the top price from both by giving one your best 
squabs and the other your second best. 




KILLED SQUABS HUNG TO COOL. 

After the squabs have been killed they should be hung as tliis picture shows to 

cool. The wooden scantUng or studding is several feet long and is suspended from 

the ceiling at its ends by wire, so that cats and rats cannot chmb to the squabs. A 

pair of nails are driven in four inches apart and the squabs' legs set in between them 



82 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE MARKETS. 

Squabs with the Feathers on Taken by the Boston and Some 
Other City Markets — The New York Market Wants Them 
Plucked and. Pays the Highest Price of Any Northern City 
- — Interpretation of Quotations of Squabs as Seen in the News- 
papers — White- Fleshed Squabs are Wanted, Not Dark- 
Fleshed. 

The Boston market, and the markets in some other cities, 
will take squabs with feathers on. It is only necessary for 
you to tweak the necks of the squabs and send them to the 
train, after they have cooled over night. Some shippers do 
not take the trouble to box the killed squabs, but tie their 
legs together with string and send them along to market. 
In the baggage cars of the trains running into Boston you will 
sometimes see strings of squabs going in to the dealers in this 
way. 

The New York market demands squabs plucked. The 
squab breeders who have large plants and who ship to the 
New York ma.rket employ pluckers and pay them by the 
piece. A skillful plucker will strip feathers from squabs at 
the rate of ten to twenty squabs an hour. The proper time to 
pluck the killed squab is immediately after killing. When 
picked clean, throw the squab into cold water and leave it 
there over night to plump out and harden the flesh. In the 
summer use ice water. 

The squab puts on more feathers than flesh during the 
last few da3^s of its growth and if you see squabs which are 
only three weeks old, but which are of good size, you may save 
a week on feed by killing the squab at that age and plucking 
it. When the feathers are off of it, it looks like the four weeks 
squabs which have not matured so rapidly. 

If you are shipping to the New York market, you should 
pack your squabs in a neat white wood box, printed if you 
please. Do not use a pine box for if you do the odor of the 
pine will penetrate the squabs. 

The New York market for squabs is the best in the North. 



84 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Squabs delivered, by our customers there invariably bring 
from one to one dollar and fifty per dozen more than the 
Boston market. This is because there are more rich people 
in New York than there are in Boston, and they are more 
free with their money in providing luxuries for their table 
than Boston folks. We do not mean to disparage the Boston 
market for squabs, which is always good, averaging three 
dollars a dozen, but we wish to emphasize the fact that the 
New York market is a phenomenal one. Anybody living 
near New York can make a fortune raising squabs. Our 
largest orders haA^e cC»me from customers who are shipping 
to New York. 

Not all the New York newspapers print market quotation 
of squabs. The New York Evening Sun is an exception. 
All through the winter squabs are quoted in the Evening Sun 
at five dollars a dozen. This means that a squab breeder 
shipping to New York should have got six dollars and seven 
dollars for a choice product, from private customers. 

A correspondent in New York State sends a clipping from 
the New York Tribune's market columns and asks for an 
interpretation. We quote from it as follows: 

" Pigeons, 20c.; squabs, prime, large, white, per doz., $3.50 
and $3.75; ditto, mixed, $2.75 and $3; ditto, dark, $1.75 
and $2." 

The quotation, " Pigeons, 20 cents," means twenty cents 
a pair for common old killed pigeons. These tough old birds 
are occasionally foi^nd in the markets and are worth only 
ten or fifteen cents apiece. They are neither squabs nor the 
old Homer pigeons, but are common pigeons such as fly in 
the streets. A small boy might get a pair of these street 
pigeons and kill them and give them to a butcher who would 
pay him fifteen or twenty cents a pair. These cheap pigeons 
come into the eastern markets largely from the AYest in barrels 
and are sold to Boston commission men for fiA^e cents apiece, 
or fifty cents a dozen. They are retailed at from one dollar 
to one dollar and twenty cents a dozen. They are in the 
Chicago market masquerading as squabs. They have been 
killed with guns and have shot in their bodies. If you ask 
for pigeon pie at one of the cheap Boston restaurants, you 
will get a shot or two against A^our teeth with mouthfuls. 
After CA^ery trap-shooting contest some skulker goes oA^er the 



THE MARKETS 85 

field and gathers up all the killed and mained birds he can 
find, and sells them for two and three cents apiece, or for 
anything he can get, and these find their way into the markets. 
The crael practice of pigeon shooting by miscalled "sports- 
men " on Long Island is quite common, and the presence of 
these birds in the New York butcher shops accounts for the 
above quotation in the Tribune. It is unnecessary to add 
that such birds do not compete with squabs. They can be 
made palatable only by stewing for hours in a pie, which takes 
out a little of their toughness. There is now a law in New 
York forbidding pigeon shooting. 

As to squabs, the quotation, " Prime, large, white, per dozen 
$3.50 and $3.75," is for the kind of squabs that are raised 
from our Homers, namely, No. 1 grade. 

By the quotation, " Mixed, $2.75 and $3.00," is meant that 
these amounts are paid for lots of birds composed of No. 1 
and No. 2 grades, mixed. If you sort up your birds care- 
fully you will be able to get the No. 1 prices for all. Some 
people do not knov/ how to sort them, and they have to be 
satisfied with the price of a mixed lot. 

By the quotation, " Dark, $1.75 and $2.00," is meant the 
dark-fleshed squabs, as you have learned by reading our 
Manual. Squabs whose flesh is dark do not sell for as much 
as the white-fleshed squabs. 

Pigeons are of all colors, i. e., as you see their feathers, and 
the squabs likewise, but when you pluck the feathers off the 
flesh is either a pure white with a tinge of yellow, or dark like 
a negro's skin. 

Quotations for squabs as found in the market reports in 
the newspapers are always lower than they really are. The 
writers of the market columns in the daily papers see only the 
commission men and cater only to them; they smoke the 
commission men's cigars and believe what the commission 
men tell them. They do not see the producer at all. The 
object of the commission men is to get the squabs as cheaply as 
they can. When you are breeding squabs make up your mind 
to get from twenty-flve cents to one dollar or more per dozen 
than you see quoted in the market reports. The only way to 
find out the truth about the squab markets is to go into them 
and offer to buy squabs, not to sell them. Then you will learn 
the true prices. 




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THE MARKETS 87 

At the same time the report quoted above was printed in 
the New York Tribune a breeder in Mauricetown, N. J., was 
getting from four dohars and twenty-five cents to four dollars 
and fifty cents a dozen for his squabs. (This was the last 
week in January, 1902.) You see, it does not pay to trust 
wholly to the market reports in the newspapers. The motive 
of the city men is to get their goods as cheaply as they can. . It 
is your motive to get as much as you can, and don't be fooled 
by second-hand information. Go direct to headquarters 
yourself in person and learn the truth. If the middleman 
tries to hold down the price to you, go to a consumer and 
make your bargain with him at top prices. 

A breeder in New Jersey writes that there are several 
squab breeders in his town, all of whom give their regular 
time to other businesses. He continues: " I am now (Feb- 
ruary, 1902), getting thirty-two cents each as they run, no 
sorting, for what few squabs I am now raising, and they 
are sold to a man who calls every Tuesday for them. When 
I have enough, I ship direct to New York by express. They 
sort them in New York." 

This is doing extremely well for unsorted squabs. It is 
only another bit of evidence which proves the money-making 
condition of the New York market. (The above correspon- 
dent's breeders are not first-class, he admits, saying he has 
been breeding for seven years and his flock has run down.) 

The Kansas City market does not yet know what a fat 
squab is. The only things obtainable there are the squabs of 
common pigeons, which are quoted low, as they are all over 
the country. A correspondent in Atchison writes: '* I wrote 
to the Kansas City dealer again, telling him I thought his 
prices were pretty low for Homer squabs. He replied that 
they had so few Homers offered that they did not quote them, 
and they would be worth from two dollars to two dollars and 
fifty cents per dozen. He quoted common pigeon squabs at 
one dollar and twenty-five cents to one dollar and seventy-five 
per dozen, as I wrote you before. That is better, and I want 
to try raising them as soon as I can get into a place where I 
can handle them." 

Fact is, the squabs that bring from three to five dollars a 
dozen east of the Mississippi will bring that (and more) as soon 
as the wealthy trade of Kansas City gets a taste of them. 



88 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Find out for yourself whether your market wants squabs 
with the feathers on or off. We do not know such details 
about the squab market in every city in the country and can- 
not advise you accurately on this point if you write to us 
from a distant town or city. 

The best way to find out the facts concerning the squab 
market is to go from place to place, or to write, offering not to 
sell squabs but to buy them. The squab sellers are much 
more interested in a possible buyer than a possible seller. 
They receive letters from many inquirers about markets but 
as a rule pay scant attention to them unless the writer is 
really producing squabs and has them for sale. 




SQUA.B HOUSE BUILT OF LOGS 



CHAPTER X. 

PIGEONS' AILMENTS. 

Canker a Filth Disease which Makes its Appearance in Nasty, 
Cramped and Crowded Quarters — // is a Captivity Disease 
and a Sure Cure for it is to Turn the Bird Loose to Get a 
. Change of Food and Plenty of Exercise — A Flock Supplied 
with Pure Food and Clean Water Never will be Sick — 
Canker is Not Epidemic — It does Not Pay to Dose a 
Sick Pigeon, Better Turn it Out to Get Well. 

The principal ailment met with by the squab breeder is 
canker. This ailment is a puzzle to some breeders and they 
are alarmed when it makes an appearance in their flock, as 
it does if the feed is poor or sour, the water dirty, or the squab 
house filthy. The advice which they give when they find a 
cankered bird is, "Kill it." That is the advice we used to 
give at first, but now we know better. First, what is canker? 
It is a disease of which you know the cause (filth, poor feed or 
dirty water) and whose symptoms you see in the form of a 
cheesy -like deposit in the mouth of the pigeon, and breaking 
out around the bill. Catch the pigeon, hold it in your lap 
and force open its bill and you will see a yellowish patch or 
patches in the.m.outh, and the mouth will usually be filled 
with a yellowish deposit which smells bad. The disease is 
not serious. The trouble lies with the feed and the filth and 
that is what spreads the same symptoms from one pigeon to 
another. A case of canker in your flock should be a warning 
to you that the feed or water is wrong, or that you 
have a filthy house. Do not get alarmed and kill the bird. 
Catch the affected pigeon, carry it out of your flying pen 
and squab house and throw it into the air. The bird may 
fly away and lose itself, amd if it does you are out one pigeon 
just as if you had killed it. The chances are, however, as in 
the case of any sick animal, that it will linger around home. 
Now you will be surprised to see how quickly that pigeon's 
health will improve. Not having a steady supply of food 
before it, it will have to hustle for a living, and this exercise 
and the change of living, and the scanty living, will effect the 

89 




PAIR OF HOMERS BILLING. 
This illustration is made from a photoerraph of a pair of our pigeons caught in 
the act of billing, or kissing. The pigeon on the left is the male and on the right 
the female. Billing is one of the acts of love making. Mounting and treading 
generally follow immediately after bilhng. 



90 



PIGEONS' AILMENTS 91 

cure. It will get more fresh air, and a great deal more exercise, 
and more sun, than it would get if lett in company with the 
other birds. In about a week you will notice that it will hold 
its bill tighter, and if there is a sore on the outside of the bill 
you will see this sore dry up. In two weeks the chances are 
that the yellowish deposit on the interior of the mouth will 
be entirely gone. The pigeon will hover around the other 
pigeons. It will fly to the outside of the netting and look at 
its fellows. Place a dish on the ground now and then with a 
little feed and you will attract it. Catch it when you have a 
favorable opportunity either with a net on the end of a pole, 
or with a broom, pinning it into a corner. You may have to 
try several times, but you will get it after a while. Its eye 
will be brighter and signs of disease will be gone, and you can 
put it back into the squab house with the others. The exer- 
cise, sunlight, change of food, and scanty food, have made 
the cure. There are few pigeons so bad with canker that they 
cannot be cured in this way. For that reason we have not 
much hesitation in saying that canker is a captivity disease, 
caused by lack of exercise as well as unavoidable filth and too 
.much of the wrong kind of feed. We have observed wild 
pigeons in the streets and we never saw a case of canker among 
them. You may say to yourself that it is quite a risk to 
throw out into the open air a pigeon which has cost you from 
seventy-five cents to a dollar, but it is better to do this than 
to take the advice of all other breeders and books and kill it. 

If you do not wish to throw a sick pigeon out into the air 
to get well, construct a box with wire netting over the front, 
and put the pigeon in there for special feeding and watering 
until it gets well. 

Powdered alum sprinkled. in the drinking water now and 
then will tend to ward off canker from a flock. 

It does not pay to dose sick pigeons, because a cure seldom 
is obtained by dosing, and you are out your time. 

The squab breeder who follows the advice as to feed and 
water, and cleanliness of squab house, given in this Manual, 
will not have any sick pigeons. It is so very easy to keep a 
pigeon in perfect health that the fear of disease is a bugbear 
not worth taking into account. The element of disease is a 
constant source of worry to the chicken breeder, and a source 
of heavy loss to the best of them. We wish to assure all who 



92 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

contemplate starting in the squab breeding business that the 
pigeon naturaUy is a healthier and more rugged bird than the 
domestic hen and that positively you will not be fussing with 
remedies and cure-alls, in handling them. 

" Going light," or wasting away, is an ailment of pigeons 
occasionally met with. The cause of it is an absence of grit 
and salt. If your staples of feed are provided as we tell, and 
you give a variety of feed, and you provide grit and oyster 
shells, you will have no cases of " going light." The disease 
is known by a steady wasting away of the pigeon. Catch 
it and you feel a prominent breastbone, and scanty flesh, 
showing that some element in the feed is lacking. 



CHAPTER XL 

GETTING AHEAD. 

Make your Birds Pay jar themselves as they Go Along, 
unless you Wish to Wait Patiently until a Small Flock 
Increases to a Large One — Better to Take the Money Made 
jrom Sale of Squabs and Buy More Adult Birds than to 
Raise the Squabs, Because it is a Long Jump from Four 
Weeks {the Killing Age) to Six Months, at which Age the 
Birds Begin Breeding — Shipping Points. 

It is the birds and not the buildings which count in squab 
raising and if you have fifty dollars to start, put thirty-five 
dollars or forty dollars into your birds and the balance into 
your building. We have had customers start with a hundred- 
dollar building and put a ten-dollar lot of birds into it, con- 
tinuing to buy ten-dollar lots of us about once a month until 
they had their flock to a good size, but we believe it is best to 
let the buildings follow the birds, and not the birds the 
buildings. In other words, let your birds earn buildings as 
they go along. It is quite a drag on a small flock to weigh it 
down with an expensive building much too large for it. 

Put this down in your mind solid, where you will not forget 
it: Make your pigeons pay for themselves as they go. 

We sell to a great many poultrymen, and we like to get their 
orders, for they have been through the mill of raising feathered 
animals and are practical, and they are quick to see the money 
in squabs, and when their order for breeding stock comes 
along, it is in nine cases out of ten a large order, even if they 
have had no previous experience. They know that in order 
to sell squabs they have got to have birds enough to breed 
squabs and it is just as easy for them to spend fifty dollars or 
one hundred dollars at the start as it is for them to spend ten 
dollars -or fifteen dollars and use up one hundred dollars' worth 
of time while waiting a year to begin selling squabs. 

Many beginners are so skeptical that they do not believe 
squabs grow to market size in one month, or they have no 
confidence in their ability to feed the mature birds so as to 
keep them alive. They wish to make a start with a few pairs 

93 



94 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

and actually convince themselves. We do not believe in 
untried hands plunging into something of which they know 
nothing, and we commend the caution of the beginner wdth 
squabs who wishes to feel his way and " make haste slowly " 
as the saying is, nevertheless we know it to be a fact that our 
customers who started with large flocks are making splendid 
successes, and we are not so cautious as we were in former 
books in advising a small purchase, at the start. The rules 
for breeding we have given have stood the test of time; we 
haA^e not had it said to us that they are misleading or erroneous; 
on the contrary, our customers write and tell us that their 
experience corresponds with ours, that the books are all right, 
and our business has increased right along. When a customer 
orders two hundred dollars' worth of breeding stock of us and 
two months later two hundred dollars' worth more (we sell to 
some customers month after month steadily, as their means or 
their inclination permit them to buy) w^e are given a large 
measure of confidence, first, that people (many of whom we 
never see and who are not experts) can start with our writings 
and our breeding stock and make a success; second, that 
all we have advised about the industry is of general and con- 
vincing application; and third, that it does not take extraor- 
dinary skill to make a success with squabs. 

There are failures with squabs, even b}'^ college professors, 
because some beginners are unsuited to the business. Many 
are lured into it by get-rich-quick stories. It would amaze 
you to read the letters that some beginners write. You never 
can tell a man's pigeon and poultry ability by his orthography 
and grammar. Letters in crude spelling, and crooked writing 
frequently come from the most successful squab raisers. The 
knack of caring for animals successfully cannot be acquired 
by some. Given two women, with cooking materials and the 
same cook books, one cooks splendidly, and the other mis- 
erably. Why? Well, it is the same with pigeons. Some 
can and some can't. However, the failures at squab or 
poultry raising seldom blame themselves. 

There are many of the naturally careless, improvident 
persons who have turned to squabs to help them out of finan- 
cial holes, and they have made a failure of squab raising. 
Many of us remember the furore over raising chicken broilers 
for market, which started a score of years ago. The fact that 



GETTING AHEAD 95 

some were making money at it started a burning hen fever in 
hundreds of young and old people anxious to make a lot of 
money quick. Clerks and society women from New York 
moved into the suburbs on small farms and began to try to 
make realities of their dreams. Not accustomed to manual 
labor, they made a sorry mess of it. Writers of that period 
tell of chicken gentlemen and ladies who went about their 
daily round of duties with their delicate hands carefully pro- 
tected by kid gloves. It did not take long for the end for such 
experimenters to arrive. They returned to the great city 
sadder, but wiser. The squab industry has suffered also the 
past five years from such treatment. Many have played 
with it as a child would with a new toy, giving up their 
pigeons in a few months at the slightest discouragement. 

The past six years are strewn with the wrecks of imitation 
squab advertisers and their guarantees. Every spring, when 
demand for breeders is greatest, some of these come to life 
again, or new ones crop up, and they get what harvest they 
can, many of them selling what they can pick up in the way 
of culls, such as we ourselves sell to Faneuil Hall marketmen 
to be killed. These advertisers start advertising in January 
and by June they have quit. 

The following, from the pen of an old poultry writer, 
appeared in a farm periodical of large circulation in January, 
1907: " So far, every attempt made in this country to estab- 
lish a large poultry (chicken) farm has been met by failure. 
The extensive and successful plants of today are the outcome 
of a small beginning and a gradual growth. True, the main 
cause for failure has been the lack of experience; men have 
undertaken work for which they were not qualified." 

So it is the rule with squab and poultry failures, especially 
women, to blame everybody but themselves. Such persons 
learn bitterly that experience is indeed a factor. 

The place and flock of the one who fails with squabs tell 
their own story. The drinking fountains are seldom washed, 
the pen is seldom cleaned and the place has a run-down look 
generally, sometimes being positively filthy. The grain is 
bought and fed on the catch-as-catch-can principle with no 
provision for variety. The cheapest grain is bought, or it is 
ignorantly bought, and may be full of weevils, or sour. The 
owner of such a place generally matches the place. 



96 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

Some advertisers selling breeding stock try to give the 
impression in their advertising that they control the matings 
and love affairs of the pigeons they sell, to the uttermost 
degree. " We are the ones who can start you right," they 
say, "with our guaranteed mated pairs." Their pigeons, how- 
ever, behave just the same as all pigeons. You have just as 
much control over the minds of your pigeons as anybody. 
We have the finest equipment for mating in America, as it is 
the largest, a thousand mating coops being in constant use. 
One of the buildmgs is heated by a hot-water plant so as to 
get quick results in mating in the winter. It is natural for 
pigeons to breed, same as all animals. Do not believe that 
the man who offers to sell you pigeons has it in his power to 
control them after they have left his hands. The control of 
your pigeons is in your hands absolutely. If you raise an 
excess of cocks, or if you have an excess of either sex, for any 
reason, you should procure enough of the opposite sex to 
match up evenly. You should have some mating coops 
(ordinary boxes with wire fronts will do) and in them you 
should pair up birds to suit yourself as to color of plumage, or 
size, or special characteristics, as you raise them. 

We fill all orders, large or small, with equal care and 
thoroughness, for it is just as much to our interest to please 
the customer and get more orders in the one case as in the 
other. 

There is not much choice as to what time of year a start 
in squab breeding should be made. Our customers who 
start in the winter have been exceptionally successful because 
then prices for squabs are at the top notch, and it takes only 
a few sales to make a new breeder thoroughly convinced to 
go ahead to success. We ship breeders all the year round. 
A pigeon will not break down under either stifling heat or 
bitter cold, being different from other animals. 

We fill orders in rotation and treat customers alike, and 
ship promptly. Frequently we get orders to ship by first 
returning express, and it is very difficult to do this. One 
customer in Chicago planned to start for Alaska with twelve 
pairs of our birds, but he held back his letter so that we got 
it with only two hours to fill crates and get birds to him before 
his departure. We filled his order as a matter of accommoda- 
tion. 



GETTING AHEAD 97 

In ordering supplies to be sent by freight, remember that 
it takes a freight shipment some time to get to destination, 
especially when traffic is congested in the spring or in the 
harvest season. Give us your order for nest bowls and 
supplies before your house is read}^ 

The live breeders are shipped by us either in specially made 
pine crates or wicker coops. The wicker coops remain our 
property and are returned to us at our expense by the express 
companies after the customer has released the pigeons. These 
baskets are expensive and are fitted with large tin feed and 
water dishes. It is impossible to break them open with the 
roughest handling. The birds have plenty of room in them 
and arrive at their destination in fine condition. 

The usual fault of inexperienced shippers is that the box 
or crate is too high, and too large, giving an opportunity for 
one bird to pass another by flying over its head. If there is 
too much room between the top and bottom of the crate 
feathers will be rumpled and pulled out, and the birds by 
crowding will suffocate one or two. A large, heavy crate 
also adds enormously to the express charges. It is not 
pleasant to buy pigeons and receive them in a cumbrous 
box weighing from twenty-five to seventy-five pounds, on 
which the express charges are more than double what they 
would be were the birds crated properly. 

If the birds are going to a point only a day or a day and a 
night distant, they need no feed nor water. For a long 
journey, a bag of grain should be tied to the crate. It is the 
duty of the express messengers to feed and water the birds en 
route, and they are so instructed by their companies. 

Do you know that pigeons are transported by the express 
companies at the rate charged for ordinary merchandise under 
the classification in force for 1907 on? The rate is found in 
every express book (ask your agent to show it to you if there 
is any dispute over charges) now as follows: " Pigeons, 
homing, merchandise rate.'' Tell the agent to look in the P's 
for Pigeons and he will find it there. 

For carrying most live-stock short distances, the animal 
rate (which is double the merchandise rate) is charged. This 
is a peculiar rule when it was formerly applied to pigeons, and 
it worked so that the buyer at a remote point got his ship- 
ment cheaper than the buyer nearer us. For instance, we 




HOW WE SHIP PIGEONS. 

Care and skill exercised in shipping live pigeons are large factors in satisfying 
customers. It is not a pleasant experience to send money away for pigeons and 
have them reach you in a home-made box, generally of enormous weight, and bearing 
enormous express charges. 

We originated the above style of shipping and have two thousand shipping 
baskets in use. They are expensive but by their use we are able to guarantee safe 
arrival. The customer receives his shipment in faultless condition. 

The small bag of grnin on top of the basket, tied to it, is for the use of the express- 
man in feeding the birds en route. The tin water dish is at the end of the basket, 
outside, where it ought to be, not inside. 

These shipping baskets remain our property and are returned to us empty at our 
expense after the customer has released his birds. 



GETTING AHEAD 99 

could ship a crate of pigeons to Chicago from Boston cheaper 
than we could to Buffalo. All the express companies doing 
business in the United States and Canada have the same rule, 
which is, that between points where the single or merchandise 
rate is two dollars or more per hundred pounds, live animals, 
boxed, crated or caged, are charged for transportation at the 
single or merchandise rate. Between points where the single 
or merchandise rate is less than two dollars per hundred 
pounds, live animals are charged the animal rate (which is 
double the merchandise rate). Poultry (not pigeons) are 
charged the one and one-half rate when the rate per one hun- 
dred pounds is less than two dollars. 

In order to obtain the lowest rate of transportation, the 
value of each pigeon must be stated by the shipper at five 
dollars or less. 

We have, seen breeders who have been shipping live-stock 
for years and they never heard of the above rule of the 
express companies, and also we have seen scores of express 
agents who did not know of their own rule, but always charged 
the animal rate on animal shipments. But the rule is found 
in every graduated charge book of every express company 
and the experienced expressmen and experienced shippers 
know all about it. If the agent in your town is ignorant of 
the rule, ask him for his graduated charge book. Many 
express agents at local points seldom handle a pigeon ship- 
ment and do not know how to charge for it. 

A live animal contract release, to be signed both by shipper 
and express agent, is needed in all cases where the value of 
each pigeon is more than five dollars. If pigeons which we 
ship are killed in a smash-up, we can recover from the com- 
pany. We have no hesitation, therefore, in guaranteeing the 
safe delivery of our pigeons to* customers. Our respon- 
sibility does not end when we have given them to the express- 
man. Our guarantee follows them as long as they are in the 
hands of the express company. We will put them into your 
hands safe and sound. 

Once in a while you will read of live-stock and breeding 
associations getting together and complaining about the 
" exorbitant rates " charged by the express companies. The 
trouble is not with the rates of the express companies, but lies 
wholly in the ignorance of the breeders who meet to complain. 

L OF a 



100 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

They simply do not know how to ship and how to talk to the 
express agents. 

We never read the above advice as to shipping live-stock in 
any book or paper. It is the product of our own experience 
and the information cost us at least one hundred dollars in 
excess charges before we learned how to get the low rate. 
It is worth dollars to our customers, and that is why we have 
given it here in detail. 

Killed squabs go to market at the rate charged for ordinary 
merchandise, no matter what the distance. Breeders having 
special customers who wish the squabs plucked should pack 
them in a clean white wood box (with ice in the summer) and 
nail the box up tight. Such shipments go through in splendid 
condition and if the breeder has a choice article, with his 
trade mark stamped on the box, he gets the fancy price. 
Squabs which reach the Boston market from jobbers in 
Philadelphia and New York are plucked and packed with ice 
in barrels. Breeders around Boston who reach the Boston 
market with undressed squabs send them in wicker hampers 
or baskets on the morning of the day after they are killed. 

No express agent anywhere has a right to make any extra 
charges whatever on our pigeon shipments. 

There is no duty on our pigeons to Canada, Cuba or Porto 
Rico, when we send with the pigeons and also to the customer, 
as we do, a certificate of purity of breed, declaring that the 
pigeons are for breeding, and not to be killed for market. 



CHAPTER XII. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 

Women and Squab Breeding — Attentions of the Male to the 
Female Pigeon — Equal Number of Males and Females 
— Birds Flying Wild — Sale of Birds for Flyers — - 
Variation in Size of Nest Boxes — How Squabs are 
Artificially Fattened — Shipping to England — Training 
Flyers — .4 Remarkable Service for Messages between 
Islands. 

Question. I am a woman who knows absolutely nothing 
of squab raising. Do you think I can make a success of it? 
Answer. Our books are written and printed for the purpose 
of telling an absolutely ignorant person just how to proceed. 
If you will study this Manual, until you get the general plan 
and method of procedure in your mind, there is no reason 
why you cannot make a success of it. A woman is quick 
enough to puzzle out a new pattern of embroidery or a blind 
cooking recipe the terms of which are expressed in language 
utterly incomprehensible to a man. We find that our women 
customers are just as quick to comprehend pigeons as soon as 
they get started. It is necessary to have confidence, first, 
that the birds can make money, and second, that you are able 
to handle them right. Women succeed with hens quite as 
well as men. They " take " to animals fully as well as men. 
The fact that you, our customer, are a woman, ought to 
encourage rather than depress you, in the squab business. 

Question. I have an old poultry house fifteen by twenty 
feet in size, ten feet high. How many pairs of pigeons can I 
accommodate? Answer. We have this question asked us 
many times, and our reply to all is the same. Sometimes the 
customer varies it by asking, How large a house do I need to 
accommodate one hundred pairs of breeders? Sometimes 
they say they propose remodeling a bam loft which is thirty 
by twenty feet in size. The dimensions of the building vary 
with the customer. You can always accommodate in theory 
as many pairs of breeders as you can make room for pairs of 
nest boxes. Fix up your building to suit yourself, and put in 

101 



102 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

as man}^ nest boxes as you wish. Then count 3^ our nest 
boxes and you will know how many birds you can accommo- 
date. You must have two nest boxes for every pair of birds. 
Always allow more nest boxes than there are pigeons, and do 
not crowd the birds, as we have explained on page 29. 

Question. How does the male bird impregnate the female 
bird? They do not seem to me to act as roosters and hens do. 
Answer. The human eye is not sharp and quick enough to 
follow the actions of the male bird. He mounts the female 
in a manner which is called " treading." A female occasion- 
ally will " tread " the male bird, exactly as a female animal 
when in excessive heat sometimes will mount the male, or 
another female. Customers who had what they thought was 
a doubtful pair sometimes have written us saying that each 
would tread the other, and that of course both were males. 
After a while the same customer would write and say that the 
pair fooled him and that he had two eggs from them. The 
actions are in nine cases out of ten, of course, a positive guide, 
but there are exceptions to every rule. 

Question. (1) The legs of the pigeon you sent me are 
red; are they inflamed?- (2) The droppings are soft and 
mushy; I am afraid they have diarrhoea. What shall I do? 
(3) Most of my pigeons have a warty -like substance on their 
bills, varying in size with the pigeon; how shall I get rid of it? 
Answer. (1) The red color which you see is perfectl}^ natural. 
The legs of all Homer pigeons are red. (2) The natural 
droppings of the pigeon are soft and somewhat loose. When 
they have diarrhoea the droppings are extremely water}^ and 
the tail feathers are soiled. Your pigeons are all right and 
have no diarrhoea. (3) The growth of which you speak is 
perfectly natural. It varies in size with the pigeon, sometimes 
covering the base of the bill, in other cases clinging closely to it. 

Question. Can I figure with certainty that of each pair 
of squabs which my birds hatch, one is a male and the other 
a female? Answer. Not with absolute certainty, but as a 
rule. It is Nature's way to provide for an equal number of 
males and females, for that is the way the species mates and 
is reproduced. 

Question. Enclosed find ten dollars, for which please send 
me^settings of pigeon eggs to that value, and send me the 
balance due, if any. Answer. We do not seh pigeon eggs. 



Q UESTIONS A ND A NSWERS 103 

It is impossible to use an incubator and raise pigeons success- 
fully, because there is no way of feeding the young squabs 
when they are hatched. The life of squabs is nourished and 
prolonged from day to day by the parent birds, which feed 
them. To raise squabs, you must start by buying the adult 
breeders. You cannot start with the eggs. 

Question. It seems to me that if each pair of squabs 
hatched consists of male and female, that this couple is likely 
to pair when grown, being well acquainted with each other. 
This would be inbreeding and would weaken my flock. What 
shall I do? Answer. It is not the plan of the species to mate 
and inbreed like this. If brother and sister mated as you 
describe, the species would be extinct after a while. They 
will look for new mates as soon as they get out of the nest and 
are of breeding age. 

Question. When are the young pigeons old enough to 
mate? Answer. At from four to six months. 

Question. My birds do not know enough to go in from the 
roof of the squab house when it rains. How shall I get them 
in? Answer. Let them stay on the roof in the rain if they 
wish. The rain will do them no harm. 

Question. Must I heat the squab house in the winter time? 
Answer. No. The heat from a flock of pigeons in a well- 
built house is considerable. You will get more squabs from 
your pigeons in the winter time if you do heat your house 
slightly, not enough to cause much expense, but just enough 
to take the chill off. Do not let your birds out of the squab 
house on bitter cold days. 

Question. I live in Texas and I think in this climate your 
squab house would be too warm and stuffy. Answer. You 
are right. Adapt the construction to your locality. The 
poultry houses in Texas as compared to those in the North 
are much less expensive and more open to the air, and your 
squab house should be built on the same principle. 

Question. Suppose I cool the squabs as you direct and 
pack them into a box for shipment, shall I use ice? Is there 
any danger that the meat will be discolored when they arrive 
at market? Answer. Ice is not necessary in the faU, winter 
and spring. In the summer time you should use ice, although 
if the shipment is for a short distance, ice may not be necessary. 
In hot weather the squabs should not be killed until the night 



104 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

before shipping. In the cool months you may keep them 
at home longer. If the squabs are cooled by hanging them 
from studding as we describe, there is no danger that the 
meat will be discolored. The object of hanging them from 
studding is to cool the carcasses properly so that the meat 
will not be discolored by contact. 

Question. How shall I pack the killed squabs when I send 
them to market? Answer. Lay them in the box layer on 
layer, in an orderly fashion. Do not throw them in helter 
skelter. 

Question. Can I hang the squabs to cool from studding 
suspended in the barn, in the summer time? Answer. It is 
better to use the cellar of the house, or the coolest room in the 
house. 

Question. I do not like your idea of keeping the birds 
wired in. They are free by nature and it strikes me that they 
should have a chance to get exercise by long flights. Ansiver. 
You must keep them wired in, or they may leave you. Re- 
member that the Homer is attached to the place where it is 
bred, that is the Homer instinct. If you buy birds of us and 
on opening the crate let them fly anywhere they choose, 
trusting to luck to have them come back to you, you may be 
disappointed and lose some of the birds. You must keep 
them wired in all the time. 

Question. You say your Homers are fine flyers. What is 
the use of my buying them of you to fly in races or to sell 
again as flyers, if they may desert me when I let them out 
into the open air? Answer. The squabs which you breed 
from our birds will know no home but yours, and the^^ will 
not fly away from you. You can send them away, Avhen they 
are old enough, and time their flight back to your house, 
their home. When 3'ou sell these trained flyers to others, 
you do not expect that they will try to fly them, but that they 
will use them for breeders. 

Question. How large are the mating coops? Answer. 
A convenient size is two feet long, two feet wide and two feet 
high. 

Question. My birds seem timid and I am afraid to catch 
them. How shall I go about it? Answer. Do not be afraid 
of hurting them. Take a broom and drive one where you 
will, finally pinning it against the side of the squab house, or 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 105 

in a corner. Grasp it and hold its wings firmly and it will not 
struggle. Or you may make a net on the end of a pole, like 
an ordinary fish landing net, and scoop the bird into it as it 
flies through the air. 

Question. Suppose I have several squab houses, as you 
describe, but let all the birds together in one large flying 
pen, where they can bathe from one large fountain. Answer. 
This is all right if you do not wish to keep close track of your 
birds. If the birds can roam from one house to another, 
there is nothing to prevent a pair from building one nest on 
one house and then going to another house to build the second 
nest. 

Question. I believe I will put a strip of wire or piece of 
wood across the front of each nest box so as to keep each 
pair more secluded, and to keep the nests from dropping out. 
Answer. Don't do it. Don't worry about the nests falling 
out. Build the pigeon-holes perfectly plain. 

Question. How many squabs shall I pack in one box when 
sending to market? Answer. Having picked out the size 
of the box you wish, fill it up close with squabs, so they will 
not " shuck." As to the size of the box, make it as big or 
little as you please, but do not make it any bigger than one 
expressman can handle easily. A good size is two feet square 
and one foot deep. 

Question. Send me two males and ten females. Answer. 
You must buy your birds in pairs. They pair off in this way, 
namely, one male to one female. One male does not have 
two or three females. We have heard pigeon breeders talk 
of having one cock which would attend two hens, but never 
had a case in our experience. 

Question. After plucking the squab, and before sending 
it to market, do you remove the entrails? Answer. No. 

Question. In order to avoid the trouble of using the 
mating coop, may I put an equal number of cocks and hens 
in the same pen? Answer. Yes. 

Question. Can I discover the male and female organs by 
examination of the birds with a magnifying glass? Answer. 
No. You can discover them by dissecting the dead bird. 

Question. Suppose I build the nest boxes larger, so as to 
give a shelf on which the birds can alight? Answer. Don't 
do it. The bird will fly directly into the nest, or onto the nest 



106 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

box in front of the nest. You do not need an alighting place. 

Question. Seems to me that if I start with forty-eight 
pairs of birds, I ought to have ninety-six perches. Answer. 
The birds do not all perch at the same time. While some 
are perching, others are on the nests, or walking on the floor, 
or are outside in the flying pen, or on the roof. Put up a few 
perches where you have room and let it go at that. 

Question. I live in England; can you ship me twenty-four 
pairs of your breeders? Answer. Yes; the transportation 
charges will be four dollars. In addition you will have to pay 
the butcher or steward of the boat ten shillings for feeding 
and watering the birds. Send us six dollars and fifty cents 
in addition to the regular price of the birds and we will ship 
to you all charges prepaid. In shipping to Cuba and remote 
points in the United States and Canada, we do not have to 
pay anything extra for the feeding and watering of the birds; 
the express charges include the feeding and watering. 

Question. What is a Runt pigeon? Please quote prices 
on a dozen pairs of Runts. Answer. A Runt pigeon is a 
special breed of pigeon, remarkable for its large size. They 
come all colors, as a Homer does. The white Runts are an 
exceptionally beautiful bird and command large prices, as 
high as six dollars to fifteen dollars a pair. The squabs which 
Runts breed weigh from eighteen ounces to one and one-half 
pounds at four weeks. If Runts bred as fast as Homers, they 
would be just the bird for squab breeders, but they are 
fatally slow in breeding, as a rule. The Homers raise two 
pairs of squabs to the Runts' one. Therefore it^is of course 
more profitable to raise Homers. We do not sell Runts and 
do not advocate their use either as a separate breed, or 
crossed up with Homers. The large, plump, thoroughbred 
Homer is the best. 

Question. What is the difference between the Homer and 
Antwerp breeds of pigeons? Answer. No difi:erence. The 
name is used interchangeably to apply to the same breed of 
pigeon. In New England we speak of them mostly as 
Homers. In some places they are called more often Antwerps. 

Question. Can I feed some of my squabs by hand if nec- 
essary? Answer. Yes. Mix up a mushy, soft handful of 
grain, hold the squab in the left hand, close to your body, and 
with the thumb and first finger of your right hand force the 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 107 

mixture into the bill. The squab will swallow and fill its 
crop. A backward squab may be forced in this manner. 

Question. Can you sell me twelve pairs of young Homers, 
about eight weeks old? Answer. No. It is impossible to 
tell the sex of pigeons of that age. Any breeder who under- 
takes to furnish squabs several weeks old in equal males and 
females cannot do so and is imposing on you. 

Question. Please give recipes for cooking squabs. An- 
swer: See the cook books. Squabs are generally served 
broiled. They should be drawn, singed and washed. Cut 
off the heads, split into two parts, season, put on a lump of 
butter and broil over a hot fire. Place close to the fire at 
first so as to brown the outside and retain the juices, then 
hold further away from the fire to complete the cooking. If 
roasted, leave them in a hot oven for thirty minutes. For 
roasting, squabs may be stuffed with cranberries or currants. 
Baste every ten minutes with spoonfuls of hot water and 
butter. 

Question. How shall I train the young birds raised from 
your Homers to fly? Answer. There is a large business in 
flying Homers and if you have a pen or two of trained birds 
you can sell them at fancy prices. There are homing clubs 
all over the country which have contests and it is worth while 
for a breeder to work for a reputation of breeding and selling 
fast flyers. The young Homers when five months old are 
strong enough to be trained to fly. Take them in a basket 
(having omitted to feed them) a mile or two away, and 
liberate them one by one. They will circle in the air, then 
choose the correct course. You should have left grain for 
them as a reward for their safe arrival home, and an induce- 
ment for their next experience in flying. Two or three days 
later take or send them away five miles and repeat. Next 
try ten miles, and so work on by easy stages up to seventy- 
five or one hundred miles. If you have a friend in another 
city, you may send your birds in a basket to him with instruc- 
tions to liberate certain ones at certain hours, or you may 
send the basket by train to any express agent, along with a 
letter telling him to liberate the birds at a certain hour and 
send the basket back to you. If you wish to have the birds 
carry a message, write it on a piece of cigarette paper (or an}^ 
strong tissue), wrap the paper around the leg of the bird and 




SELF-FEEDER FOR GRAIN. 

This trough gives excellent satisfaction with us. We do not seU it, but will 
tell you how to have it made. It is four feet long. At the bottom of this page 
you will see a sectional view of it. The grain is put into the hopper, H. It drops 
in the direction indicated by the arrows into the spaces, AA, where it is eaten by 
the birds. As fast as they eat, more drops down. The strip through which they 
stick their heads is three inches wide and the slots are cut one and one-half inches 
wide. The V at the bottom of the trough is made from a sohd piece of four by four. 
It is solid so that rats cannot get inside of it and hide and pilfer the grain, ihe 
inch-square pieces at the front of the bottom prevent the birds from pecking the 
grain out upon the floor. One-inch lumber is used in the construction for every 
part except the slot-boards, BB, which are three-eighths inch thick. The top and 
bottom are of twelve-inch boards, the sides of ten-inch boards. The top is held m 
place by a hook and eye at each end as pictured. The trough will hold from three 
days' to two weeks' supply of grain, depending on the size of the flock. Put the 
trough not in the flying pen, but inside the squab house. Or, you may build a 
half-trough (slot-board down one side only) and set it in the passageway, and it 
wiU fill the space between the lower tier of nest boxes and the floor. Here it may 
be fiUed from the passageway, and you wiU not have to enter the unit pen. We 
have tried aU kinds of self-feeders and recommend this pattern as the oest ot all. 
If you adopt it in connection with the dowel system (iUustrated on previous page) 
your dowels wiU be used only behind the drinker, this trough taking up four feet ot 
the rest of the space. Make it either longer or shorter than four feet, to suit the size 
of your flock, if you wish. 



12 




Q UES TI NS A ND A NSWERS 109 

tie with thread, or fasten with glue or a stamp; or, you may 
tie the tissue around one of the tail feathers. A thin alu- 
minum tube containing the message may be fastened to a 
leg, or to a tail feather. A trap window should be constructed 
to time the arrival home of birds. This is an aperture about 
six inches square closed by wires hanging from a piece of wood 
at the top of the aperture and swinging inward, but held close 
to the aperture by its own weight. The pigeon cannot fly 
out but on its return home (if you have sprinkled grain on the 
inside of the house, next the wires) the bird will push the wire 
door and go in. It takes only a day or two for the pigeon to 
become accustomed to the trap. If you connect the trap 
with a simple make-and-break electric circuit, the pigeon on 
its arrival home from its flight will ring a bell in any part of 
your house or barn. When you have a record of the flyers, 
you will have a guide for mating. The majority of fanciers 
recommend a medium-sized Homer. A large hen should be 
mated to a small cock, or a large cock to a small hen. What 
is perhaps the best pigeon service in the world has been in use 
for several years between Newton Roads, Auckland, New 
Zealand, and the Great Barrier and Maro Tiro Islands, some 
seventy-five miles distant. A boy of sixteen years worked 
up the service and makes a large income from it. About 
twenty messages an hour are carried back and forth by the 
Homers. A year ago the government declared its intention 
of laying a cable from Auckland to Great Barrier. The 
project was abandoned, however, as the residents of the little 
island decided that they were well pleased with the pigeons, 
and that a cable would not be patronized. The government 
offered to buy the whole pigeon outfit from the boy owner, 
but he refused. There are from four hundred to five hundred 
pairs of pigeons in the service. 

Question. In the case of young birds mated up for the 
first time at five or six months of age, is it best to destroy the 
first eggs, or let them go ahead and hatch in the regular way ? 
Answer. Let them go ahead and hatch and learn to feed their 
young. It will improve them for the next hatch. 

Question. Please describe the self-feeder more fully and 
explain its operation. Answer. The hopper of the feeder 
is V-shaped so that the grain will fall by its own weight to the 
centre at the bottom, which is cut away as shown in the 



no NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

illustration so that as the birds peck up the grain, more falls 
from the hopper. The slit where the birds eat should be 
about an inch and a half in width, just enough to prevent the 
grain from running out faster than it is eaten. If the grain is 
pulled out on the floor, tack a strip of wood, like a lath, so as 
partly to block the holes. 

Question. Should I cover the yard of the flying pen with 
your grit? Answer. No. Provide a box and keep our grit in 
the box. When the pigeons want grit, they will go to the 
box and get it. 

Question. Are the carrier (flying) pigeons the same breed 
as your Homers? Answer. Yes. A flying or carrier Homer 
is a Homer that has been trained to fly a long distance. 

Question. What are artificially fattened squabs? An- 
swer. An artificially fattened squab is a squab which has 
been stuffed by hand. Take a syringe and fill it with fattening 
mixture of gruel-like consistency, open the mouth of the squab 
and force the contents of the syringe into the crop of the squab. 
Very few breeders take this trouble to bring their squabs to an 
extraordinary size. 

. Question. I wish you had shipped m}^ breeders in one 
large crate, then the express charges would not have been so 
much as for the two crates which you used. Answer. You 
are mistaken. An express shipment goes by weight and not 
by number of packages. The express clerks put all the crates 
going to one customer on the scales together and weigh them 
all at once and on the total weight the charge is based. They 
prefer to handle a large shipment in small packages, rather 
than in one large package. 

Question. Can I use the upper part of my henhouse for 
pigeons, and if so will the pigeons interfere in the flying pen 
with the hens? Answer. You may use the upper part of 
your henhouse and the pigeons will not be harmed by the 
hens, nor the hens by the pigeons. It is best to build the 
flying pen in two stories so that the pigeons cannot fly into 
the henhouse to try to nest. 

Question. To save room, I would like to build my pigeon 
house in two stories. Ansiver. That is all right. Build the 
top flying pen out over and extending beyond the bottom 
flying pen if you wish to separate the flocks on the ground 
floor from the flocks upstairs. 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 111 

Question. What are the bands for pigeons' legs and how 
are they appHed? Answer. The seamless band is a ring of 
aluminum three-eighths of an inch in diameter and from 
three-sixteenths to one-quarter of an inch in width. You 
cannot apply it to an old pigeon. It is put on either leg of a 
squab when the squab is four or five days old, by squeezing 
the toes of the squab through the band. As the leg of the 
squab grows, it becomes impossible to remove the band 
except by cutting it off On the band, before putting it on 
the leg of the squab, you may stamp year of birth and your 
initials, or anything you choose. We sell an outfit consisting 
of aluminum tubing, dies, etc., by which the squab breeder 
may make his own bands at a cost of two or three for a cent. 

Question. Since I bought twelve pairs of you, I have kept 
a careful account of the feed, and find as you state that five 
cents a month for a pair of breeders is right. Grain has been 
much higher than usual this summer and it strikes me that 
under normal conditions of the grain market the cost of a 
pair of squab breeders would be less than five cents a month, 
or sixty cents a year. Answer. Our figures of cost were 
ascertained not by " skimping " the birds, but feeding them 
liberally, and an estimate of five cents a month for a pair is 
based on a low cost of grain, and on selling the manure. 

Question. What pattern of trowel do you recommend for 
cleaning the nest bowls and nest boxes? Answer. The 
common trowel such as bricklayers use is too pointed. The 
best pattern has a square point and a stout blade with strong 
handle. With such a trowel you can clean out the nest 
bowls and nest boxes very effectively. 

Question. Can pigeons be raised on the sea-coast as well 
as inland? Answer. Yes; the Homer pigeon is descended 
from a variety of pigeon which first bred among the cliffs 
bordering the sea-shore. 

Question. Do the squabs fly out of the nest before they are 
four weeks old? Answer. No; they look old enough to fly 
at four weeks, and their wings seem all ready for use, but they 
stay in the nest and are fed by the parent birds, and when you 
wish to kill them you find both in the nest ready for you. 

Question. Your book states that pigeons sometimes lay 
their eggs on the floor. But it does not say anything about 
taking the eggs and putting them in a nest bowl. Would the 



112 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

birds follow their eggs and accept change of nest from floor to 
nest bowl? Answer. No; you must leave the eggs where 
they lay them. You can handle a nest and change eggs from 
one nest bowl to another, if you wish, but you cannot move 
eggs from one place in the squab house to another and expect 
the birds to find them and go on with their laying. 

Question. Do all squab breeders heat their houses in the 
winter time; I mean those who do a large business like your- 
self. Answer. No; some breeders of many years' experience 
believe that a warm house is detrimental to the health of the 
birds, on account of the sudden change of temperature from 
a warm house to a cold flying pen. The object should be 
merely to take the damp winter chill off the air. If you have 
a warm, tight squab house which you will close when night 
comes, you will need no heat. 

Question. In the case of a long house, say four units long, 
should there be wire netting partitions between the units, so 
as to separate the birds into four flocks? Answer. Such an 
arrangement is more practical than one long house. It is 
better to keep track of four small flocks than one large flock. 
You can keep account of the birds both on paper, and with 
your eyes, with more precision. 

Question. How would a cement floor for the squab house 
do? Answer. Do not use cement. See page 43 again. 

Question. How is salt cat made? Answer. Take sixteen 
quarts of sand, eight quarts of slaked lime, four quarts of 
ground oyster shells, one pint of salt, one pint of caraway 
seeds and mix with water into a stiff mud. Form into bricks 
and set away to dry. The water with which you mix should 
have a tablespoonful of sulphate of iron and a tablespoonful 
of sulphuric acid for tonic and disinfectant. The birds peck 
at this mixture and it is believed to have a tonic and strength- 
ening effect on them. 

Question. Shall I crowd one of the units with nest boxes, 
or would it be better to have a smaller number of nest boxes 
and build another unit to accommodate the new birds which 
I am going to buy? Answer. Better enlarge your squab 
house. In case of doubt, you will be on the safer side if you 
do not crowd the birds. 

(See following pages for points which may occur to 3^ou and 
which are not covered in these questions and answers.) 



SUPPLEME NT. 

NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK. 
By Elmer C. Rice. 



Every year shows a healthy growth in 
tha squab industry and in our business, 
which lias become the largest in the 
world in the pigeon or poultry line, and is 
expanding steadily, requiring every little 
while new buildings, larger business of- 
fices, more help — and the growth is going 
steadily on, with every prospect of a like 
increase the coming year. 

On April 1, 1904, to get more room for 
the Boston office, we were obliged to 
move from No. 9 Friend street, and are 
now located at 287 Atlantic avenue, Bos- 
ton, where in a new modern building 
and with our quarters fitted with every 
modern convenience for the rapid and ac- 
curate handling of business, we have the 
largest space in New England devoted to 
the pigeon or poultry, or kindred trade. 

Our Manual, the National Standard 
Squab Book, is the best-selling work on 
breeding or farm-life ever published in 
any country, and has been carried in the 
mails to every part of the civilized world. 

We do not speak of these matters in a 
boastful spirit to magnify what we have 
done, but because they are an assurance 
to new customers that we are entitled to 
their confidence and patronage. 

We are most humbly grateful to the men 
and women who have favored us so boun- 
tifully with their trade and intend to 
merit further confidence. 

Our business is too much a matter of 
pride with us, too large, and too success- 
ful, to permit of a single patron being 
dissatisfied. We have spent over $100,000 
tO' put our trade on a firm and successful 
footing and we cannot afford to run the 
risk of displeasing a customer. If re- 
sources, skill and experience count for 
anything, and we think they do. we intend 
to keep on furnishing the best Homer 
pigeons nossible, and patront* can rest as- 
sured that they are getting for their 
money the greatest possible value. More- 
over, we have one price to all ; the cus- 
tomer in California c-an buy of us as 
cheaply as our next door neighbors. Our 
farm is always open to inspection and 
customers may make their own selection 
of breeding stock, if thev desire. 

Our general advertising In the high- 
class magazines and other periodicals not 
only induces the breeding of squabs but 
also leads people to eat squabs. For 
everyone who sees our advertising and 
writes for particulars and starts breed- 
ing, there are a score of men and women 



who enquire of their butchers or market- 
men for squabs in order to eat them. 
Squab dealers in every section of the 
United States and Canada are reporting 
an increased demand with which the sup- 
ply cannot begin to keep pace. 

We take some pride in the squab indus- 
try. We were the pioneers in it and we 
put it on a commercial basis. We have 
fostered it on correct lines and according 
to sound business principles, and the 
growth has not been a "boom," as some 
other things in the past have been 
boomed, but has been steady and sure 
and successful. We paint no extravagant 
picture as to the profits of squab raising, 
and we show proofs every step of the way 
— stories of success of our customers who 
started green and are making money. 

That there are occasional failures is to 
be expected. We give no recipe and sell 
no machinery for transforming an incom- 
petent person who fails at many tasks 
into a success. But the history of this in- 
dustry and of our business demonstrates 
with a power that cannot be denied that 
squab raising is RIGHT. 

No business climbs up the hill of profit 
steadily for any length of time unless it is 
absolutely fair, advertised by true state- 
ments, and giving a true money's worth. 
When we began to tell the country about 
squabs, peonle would come to our office 
and say, "Well, it reads pretty good, biit 
is it true?" We did not have much evi- 
dence ready then, but wa have now. Our 
answer is the present condition of the 
squab industry, forging ahead with giant 
strides to its place alongside of eggs and 
poultry, millions of dollars in value, and 
the unsolicited letters from our customers 
which we print, showing the most remark- 
able and convincing progres of this 
breeding. 

We have already printed a great many 
of these letters in years past, and we 
print more in this Supplement. We have 
room here to show only a small part of 
such testimony. For every letter printed 
here we have scores just as convincing. 
These communications have come to us 
tmsolicited, day by day, as the business 
brought them, and more are coming 
every day, and they are our answer to 
doubters. They are the proof that what 
we say about the business and what 
we teach in the Manual, is true, and is 
being worked out successfully. We do not 
print the names and addresses of the 



113 



114 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



writers of these letters because many of 
them are regular buyers of our birds, arid 
moreover, we cannot advertise other 
breeders free of charge. These letters and 
the testimony they give are valueless if 
thej^ are not genuine. Each and everyone 
is genuine, and moreover, wt guarantee 
their genuineness, and will produce the 
originals at any time to satisfy anj-body. 
In these daj's when manj^ "testimonials" 
are unblushingly "worked up" without a 
shadow of foundation, there are skeptics, 
and to such who cannot come to Boston 
and see us, we recommend that they send 
one of the commercial agency men to 
make the inquiry and handle the evidence. 
We have never yet had the genuineness of 
our letters from customers questioned, for 
they "ring true" and are in the simple 
language of facts which cannot be counter- 
feited, taut we are ready at any time for 
anj' doutater. 

What others have done and are doing 
with our birds, you can do. 

KILLING MACHINE.— To kifl squabs 
with extreme rapidity we have made a ma- 
chine with which the operator can work 
with much ease and satisfaction. The 
method of tweaking the necks whicli we 
describe and illustrate in the Manual is 
slow when compared with the work of this 
machine, and is repugnant to many, es- 
pecially women. 

The illustration shows the construction 
clearly. The neck of the squab is placed 
between the movable arm (or lever) and 
the lower arm, and the lever is brought 
down upon the neck, breaking the bones, 
crushing the spinal cord and killing the 
squab instantly. The operation produces 
no blood, nor does it break the flesh. 
The two edges of the upper and lower 
arms, where they come together against 
the neck of the squab should not be sharp 
so as to cut the flesh, but should be round- 
ing, and slightly flat at the points of 
contact. 

The base-board is made of three-quar- 
ters, or one-inch lumber, twenty inches 
long and seven inches wide. The upper 




arm (or lever) is of half-inch stock, one 
and three-quarters inches wide and fif- 
teen inches long. The lower arm is of 
half-inch stock one and three-quarters 
inches wide and eight and one-half inches 
long. The two upright pieces in front, 
nearest the hand of the operator, are each 
of seven-eighths or inch stock, one and 



three-quarters inches wide and three and 
three-quarters inches high. The two up- 
right pieces In back, furthest from the 
hand of the operator, are each of seven- 
eighths or inch stock, two and one-half 
inches wide and three and three-quarters 
inches high. 

The pin at the back of the machine on 
which the lever turns is of one-quarter 
inch brass or iron rod two and one-quar- 
ter inches long. 

The upper arm (or lever) is beveled or 
cut off at an angle on lower corner (be- 
hind the uprights, and consequently in- 
visible in the picture) so that the lever can 
be raised to an angle of forty-five degrees, 
thus permitting the neck of the squab to 
be inserted between the arms at a point 
just back of the farther uprights, "^'hen 
the upper lever is at rest upon the lower 
arm, there should be no space between the 
two; they should butt flush together. 

The whole machine is built of wood witli 
the exception of the metal pivot and the 
screws which hold the parts together. It 
is not necessary to mortise the uprights 
into the base-board. The screws which 
fasten the uprights are started underneath 
from the back side of the base-board and 
go through the base-board. Nails may be 
used instead of screws to hold the parts 
together, but the job will not be so 
strong. The base-board should be nailed or 
screwed to a bench or table so as to give 
firmness and solidity in operation. Carry 
the squabs in a basket to the machine and 
kill them there; do not take the machine 
into the pens and kill the squabs in sight 
of the other birds. 

We do not sell this squab killer. It 
should be built by you or your carpenter. 

Customei-s with large plants have told 
us that this tool is a handy article, and we 
have found it indispensable. The squabs 
can be killed as fast as you can work the . 
lever. The pressure is considerable and 
the cords are crushed at once. The squab 
is not strangled but is paralyzed, and 
made lifeless at once. 

After killing in this manner, the squab 
may be bled, if desired, by inserting a 
long, sharp knife in throat and cutting it 
inside, out of sight. It is easier to do 
this after the squab is dead than when 
it is alive. 

WEANIN<^ THE TOrNG BIRDS.— If you 
ai-e starting with a small flock with the 
expectation of raising your own breeders, 
do not take the young birds away from 
their parents out of the breeding pen until 
they are weaned. They are not thoroughly 
weaned until they are six to seven weeks 
old. It is true that many of them hop or 
flj- or are pushed out of the nests when 
they are from four to five weeks old, but 
they continue to cry for food when they 
are hungry, and the old cock bird of the 
pair which hatched them will be seen 
feeding them on the floor. The young- 
sters at this time are feeding themselves, 
but to keep them strong and rugged they 



SUPPLEMENT 



115 



need the crumbs of parental food which 
they get as described, and for which they 
cry, or squeak. These crumbs have been 
moistened by the parent bird and conse- 
quently digest quicker and better. 

When the youngsters are weaned, take 
them out of the breeding pen and put 
them in the rearing pen. You can tell 
by their looks when they are old enough 
to remove, even if you have not kept 
track of their age. The substance at the 
base of the bill of an old pigeon which 
is white will be a dark brown on a squab 
or young bird. A squab in the nest is 
so fat as. often to be bigger than either of 
his parents, but after he has got out of 
the nest and hustled around on the floor 
he trains off that fat and becomes thin 
and rangy and can generally be told from 
an old bird, if in no other way, because he 
is smaller. 

A poor beginner will sometimes be heard 
to say: "Many of my young birds are 
dying." When he says that, you may be 
sure that the trouble, every time, is with 
him, and not with his birds, provided, of 
course, his parent stock is rugged and 
handsome. It may be deduced, without 
asking any further questions, that he is 
taking his young birds away from the 
breeding pen before they have the strength 
to support themselves. The precarious 
period of all animal life is the weaning 
age. Some beginners who have had no 
difficulty in raising squabs to market age 
have had losses because they supposed 
that a full-fledged youngster was able to 
take care of itself, but we never knew a 
case of this which we could not straighten 
out simply by recommending the breeder 
to keep his young birds longer in the 
breeding pen. 

NEED OF HEALTH GRIT.— It has 
been our experience in dealing not only 
with many thousands of beginners in the 
squab business, but also with a great 
many breeders of considerable experience, 
that comparatively few have a proper ap- 
preciation of the value of grit. Pigeons 
have no teeth and must have grit to take 
the place of teeth, otherwise they cannot 
prepare their food for their stomachs prop- 
erly, and will not do well. We have had 
customers take the most extraordinary 
care with regard to the grain, but supply 
absolutely no grit, and then they com- 
plained because their birds were not 
breeding properly, and that the squabs 
were not plump. 

Grit is not oyster shell, nor is oyster 
shell grit. You must have both. The grit 
is needed, as stated, to grind the grain, 
while the oyster shell is needed to supply 
the constituents out of which the female 
pigeon forms the egg. 

The yard of the flying pen must be 
gravelled, not grassed, and out of this 
gravel the birds get considerable grit. If 
you watch them, you will see them peck- 
ing at this gravel in the flying pen con- 
stantly. Beach sand, or sand of any kind, 



may be used in the flying pen instead of 
gravel. The flying pen yard should be re- 
newed with fresh sand or gravel every six 
weeks, for although it may look the same 
to you, you must remember that it does 
not look the same to the birds, for they 
have been going over it constantly picking 
out the particles which they liked. In the 
winter time when the flying pen may be 
covered with snow, it is well to keep a 
protected box filled with gravel or sand in 
the squab-house. By a protected box, we 
mean a box which the birds cannot foul, 
but which allows the grit to fall down as 
fast as eaten. 

In a protected box in the squab-house 
there should also be fed the Health Grit 
TV'hich v/e sell. We have used all kinds of 
^rits, and the grit we are now using and 
selling to the exclusion of everything else, 
is the only grit which pigeons will eat 
greedily (thus showing Ihat it is good for 
them). It contains salt, and no salt need 
be provided in lump fcrm if this grit is 
supplied. The grits commonly manufac- 
tured and sold for poultry, made out of 
granite, etc., are useless for pigeons, and 
it is a waste of money to buy them, for 
common gravel or sand would be fully as 
good, and cost nothing. 

A flock of pigeons under any conditions 
and in any part of the country will do 
better when our Health Grit is fed. The 
squabs will be ready for market a few 
days earlier, they will be plumpsr, and 
both they and the old birds will be in 
rugged health, and will keep so. We keep 
this grit before our own pigeons con- 
stantly, and consume and sell more tons 
of it every year than of any grit in the 
market. It is used by practically every 
large squab breeder of our acquaintance., 
^"e recommend it in the highest terms, 
knowing in our own experience that it 
pays for itself many times over. 

We charge two dollars per 100 pounds 
for this grit. We do not sell less than 
fifty pounds. Price of fifty pounds, one 
dollar. We ship it in bags and it goes at 
a low freight rate. A 100-lb. bag will last 
a small flock for months. It is as good 
for hens as for pigeons. This grit should 
be kept in and fed from a wood box. Do 
not put it in a tin or galvanized iron box. 

OYSTER SHELL.— A great deal of oyster 
shell on the market is unfit for pigeons, 
not being ground fine enoush. It is qu'te 
difficult in some sections of the west and 
south to get oyster shell, which has to be 
transported from the seaboard The ovstor 
shell which we supply our trade is put up 
in one-hundr?d pound baa^^'. P^'ice 75 
cents per 100 pounds. No orrl«r filled for 
less than fifty pounds; price of fifty pounds, 
forty cents. It is ground fine and is just 
right for pigeons. It should be fed to the 
birds from a protected box in the squab- 
house. 

INSECT SPRAYER.— Pigeons have a 
long feather louse which is not harmful. 



116 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



The mite which causes the only trouble is 
small, about the size of a .pin-head, called 
the red mite, because after it has sucked 
the blood of the pigeon it is colored red. 
We have gone a whole season without see- 
ing any of these mites in our breeding 
houses. If lice of this kind, or any kind, 
are discovered, the insect sprayer which 
we illustrate here will be found useful. 
The barrel is filled with ksrosene (or 
water in which squab-fe-nol has been 
poured) and a fine spray driven against the 
nest-boxes and nest-bowls, or even against 
the birds. 

These insect sprayers are well made of 
heavy tin. We sell them for fifty cents 
each. They cannot be mailed, but should 




be sent by express, or with other goods 
by freight. 

Birds which are lousy may be dusted 
under the feathers, next the skin, with 
any good lice powder. The best time for 
such treatment is at night, when the 
birds may be readily caught and handled. 
It is also a good idea to throw a pinch of 
lice powder in the nest, on and around 
the squabs, about once a month during 
the summer. 

Lnice are the terror of chicken raisers, 
but we never knew a squab raiser, if in- 
telligent, to be troubled very much or 
very long with lice. Once free of lice, 
the birds almost invariably keep them- 
selves clean. It is only the loft where 
cleaning is badly neglected which is 
troubled with lice. 

There is a light-colored grub which 
sometimes forms in the manure on the 
bottom of the nest-box, but no trouble 
comes from it and it does not get on the 
bird. 

RED AND WHITE WHEAT.— It is im- 
possible for us to tell what is the differ- 
ence between red and white wheat. We do 
not know the chemical constituents which 
color one kernel red and another variety 
white. This question is asked us by in- 
quirers who have never heard of red 
wheat, yet it is a common and staple 
variety of wheat quoted daily in the 
Chicago and other grain markets. If you 
cannot get red wheat where you live, feed 
white wheat, which is fed regularly by 
nine-tenths of our customers. As we say 
in the Manual, we feed red wheat instead 
of white wheat because it is not so much 
of a laxative. When we cannot get red 
wheat, which happens at some periods of 
some years, we feed white wheat. 

The effect of wheat is to keep the bow- 
els of the birds open and regular. There 
is not much fattening substance in wheat. 



That function is performed by corn. 

Birds fed on wheat and nothing else get 
so weak that they do no breeding. We 
have found this out by the experience of 
customers. Now and then a customer buys 
birds without thinking that they must eat 
to live. After he has got them he sud- 
denly recalls that they must be fed and 
starts out to find something. We recall 
vividly one Kansas customer of this kind 
who was induced by some grain man to 
buy a lot of wheat and nothing else. After 
feeding his birds nothing but wheat for 
two weeks, he wrote us that they were 
dumpy and showing no inclination to 
build nests. "They are all the time on 
the floor," he wrote, "and cannot fly." He 
had got them so weak by feeding the 
wheat that they could not fly to their nesl- 
boxes, to say nothing of building nests. 

USE OF LEG BAND OUTFIT.— The 
aluminum which we sell with our leg 
band outfit is seamless tubing and by the 
use of the outfit you produce a band which 
is seamless and which can be applied only 
to a squab, because, of course, the feet 
of an old pigeon are too large to be 
squeezed through the band as a squab's 
can be squeezed. To make an open band 
(which can be applied to the leg of a full- 
grown pigeon) out of the closed band, you 
simply make a saw-cut lengthwise the 
band, then open the band with your fingers, 
put it around the leg of the pigeon, then 
close the band again. If anyone has old 
pigeons which he wishes to band, he will 
find this band outfit quite as serviceable 
as if used only for banding squabs. We 
have sold thousands of these band out- 
fits, and customers like them first rate. 
We can furnish open bands (to be ap- 
plied to the legs of full grown pigeons) 
made of aluminum, V-shaped joint, each 
band numbered, a first-class band in 
every way, for two cents each, or two dol- 
lars for one hundred, postage paid. 

MANAGEMENT OF BATH PANS.— 
The sixteen-inch bath pan which we rec- 
ommend and sell is better than a larger 
size, no matter what the capacity of your 
plant. It is easier emptied of water, 
there is less strain on the arms, and it is 
kept clean easier. 

There should be one bath pan for ever.v 
twelve pairs of birds. If you have about 
48 pairs of birds in each unit, you should 
have four bath pans in that unit, outside 
in the flying pen. You can get along very 
well with one drinking fountain to a unit 
with that number of birds, or a less num- 
ber of birds, but if you do not have bath 
pans enough the bathing water will get 
dirtier than it should and the birds should 
not be given an opportunity to drink this 
dirty water. 

In the winter, when the birds are shut 
up in the squab-house frequently for days 
at a time, it is not necessary to bathe 
them every day. Bathe them say once a 
week, taking the bath pans into the 



SUPPLEMENT 



117 



squab-house and letting the pans stand be- 
fore them for about an hour. If you let 
the water stand in the bath pans in the 
squab-house in the winter time all day, 
they will splash too much out onto the 
floor, and the house will get damp. 

We fill and empty the bath pans three 
times a day in the summer time. If your 
plant is a small one, it is not necessary 
to do that. The best way for you to man- 
age is this: At evening (sunset, sometimes 
before) your birds will all leave the flying 
pen for their nests and perches inside. 
Then fill the bath pans with water. When 
the following day dawns, and before you 
are up, the pigeons will fly out and take 
a bath. When you get up, go to your 
pigeons and empty the bath pans, turning 
them bottomside up and leaving them that 
way all day. 

The price of these sixteen-inch bath 
pans is forty cents, crated ready for ship- 
ment. 

KILLING WITH A KNIFE.— Some deal- 
ers in squabs wish them to be killed with 
a knife as this gets out the blood and 
makes the flesh somewhat whiter. Find 
out whether or not the man to whom you 
are going to sell the squabs wants them 
bled. The way to kill them with a knife 
is to insert the knife inside the bill and 
cut the jugular vein. Then hang up the 
squab bill downward and^ let the blood 
drain out. By using the knife on the in- 
side of the throat you do not make a 
wound which is visible to the eye of the 
consumer. Use a knife with a long, nar- 
row, sharp blade. 

CONCERNING NEST-BOXES. — Many 
customers who do not use egg-crates or 
orange boxes, but build their nest-boxes of 
half-inch or five-eighths lumber, have 
written us that they have used the con- 
struction which we illustrate herewith, 
and which is good, because cleaning can 
be better done. 

The bottoms of the nest-boxes are re- 
movable and rest on cleats, as the pic- 
ture shows. The cleats are seven-eighths 
or one inch square and are nailed to the 
uprights. 

When this construction is employed, it is 
not necessary that you have a block or 
base screwed to our nappy or nest-bowl. 
The nappy or nest-bowl may be screwed 
directly onto this removable nest-box 
bottom. 

It is not necessary, and not advisable, 
to nail a strip of wood acrosS' the fronts 
of the nest-boxes, to prevent the squabs 
from falling out. The plain nest-box con- 
struction is better in every way. Begin- 
ners who tack strips of wood across the 
fronts or who make a closed, dark nest- 
box, invariably abandon such construction 
after a few months' use of it. 

The squabs staj^ in the nest until they 
are ready to leave it, and it is very rare 
to find one on the floor. It will be noticed 
that in the cities, the street pigeons' nests 



in many cases will be found on the open 
cornices of high buildings, and if squabs 




stay in such nests until they are able to 
fly, the beginner with squabs ought not to 
be worried about his birds' nests which are 
only a few feet from the floor. 

SQUABS IN CHICAGO.— The following 
article is taken from the Chicago Ameri- 
can: 
SQUAB FARMING IS A NEW CHICAGO 

INDUSTRY. 
LITTLE CAPITAL IS REQUIRED AND 

PERSONS OF GOOD JUDGMENT 

AND CARE CAN REALIZE GOOD 

PROFITS FROM PIGEON CULTURE. 

If all the birds in all the pies were sud- 
denly to lift their voices in song like 
those in the nursery rhyme, the chorus 
would be loud and long, for raising cf 
squabs for food is a constantly growing 
and lucrative industry, and withal very 
fascinating. 

A number of farms each sheltering sev- 
eral hundred birds are "being conducted 
within easy reach of the Chicago market. 

Such clubs as the Union League and 
Athletic are always ready buyers. Plump 
birds are readily sold for a dollar apiece 
for breeding purposes, and their squabs 
at $4 a dozen for food. As in any field of 
labor the best results come from studied 
and carefully planned effort. Utmost 
cleanliness in food and in the little com- 
partments to which each bird comes with 
unerring Instinct to nest enters largely in 
success. 

Eggs of clear black or white birds are 
difficult to hatch because the birds of 
those colors are very restless and nervous, 
not caring for their eggs; sometimes only 
one in a dozen being matured. 

In four weeks the young bird is ready 
for the market. Many of the squab farms 
are side issues of those employed at other 
vocations during the day, and bid fair to 
attract the attention of those seeking 
quick returns from a small outlay. 

Attention to recognized habits of the 
birds, sanitary conditions and good breeds 



118 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



for parent birds are all that is necessary 
to success. 

ACTUAL TESTS CONVINCED THEM.— 
In Appendix A in our Manual, we tell of 
a sale of our Homers which we made in 
February, 1903, to a ship captain, who in- 
tended to sail from Boston around Cape 
Horn to the Pacific coast, with stops, the 
whole voyage to be made in about a year, 
the pigeons to furnish fresh squab meat 
for the long journey. The ship went to 
Florida, from Boston, thence to Rio de 
Janeiro, Brazil, safely, and sailed from 
there October 1, 1903. Under date of June 
22, 1904, the Captain wrote us as follows 
from New York City: "The birds proved 
all you claim for them, and even more. 
I put them in a small house I built, four 
by eight, and four by four flying pen on 
March 7, 1903. (This was on the deck of 
the ship.) They all hatched before April 
6, and up to June 5, 1904, every bird had 
hatched twelve times, and one pair thir- 
teen times. I saved one pair of the first 
hatches, that was born about April 6, and 
in October they hatched their first pair, 
and up to June 5 had six hatchings, which 
I think was pretty good. I am satisfied 
that if the birds are taken care of there is 
big money in them, and just as soon as I 
can get a location in New Jersey near New 
York City, I will send to you for two or 
three hundred pairs. I have an option on 
a place now and will know tomorrow. I 
am pretty sure I shall get it and by next 
Monday I am in hopes to begin my houses. 
As soon as I get them ready, I will send 
you a draft for what birds I want. As my 
houses are built I will order and All them 
and I hope you will try and give me a 
good lot of birds. I shall build for one 
thousand pairs this summer and increase 
next year if the birds are as good as those 
you gave me. In two weeks you may ex- 
pect to get an order for two hundred 
pairs, so you can begin to get them paired 
off. Any suggestion you can give me 
about the houses will be very acceptable, 
as I am going to begin to build at once." 

Since the above was written, he has built 
his first house and we have shipped him 
the first large lot of birds. His experience 
is certainly convincing. Anyone who has 
doubts can start with a small purchase of 
birds and find out the facts for himself, 
just as this customer did. 

We are continually filling large orders 
for customers who started with a small, 
purchase and did well. Why don't you 
start with two dozen or so pairs and have 
the experience of this Michigan customer 
whose order we received this summer: 
"A short time ago I received twenty-five 
pairs of your Homers. They are all doing 
finely, every bird being lively and full of 
vim. They are almost all at work now 
nest-building, and I am more than satis- 
fied with results thus far obtained. I 
am about to build two houses, each house 
to accommodate two hundred and fitfy 
pairs, divided into five flocks of fifty pairs. 



Enclosed find New York draft to pay for 
four hundred and fifty pairs Extra 
Homers." 

Under date of July 1, 1904, a customer 
writes us from an Ohio town: "The 
Homers I purchased of you two years ago 
this month have been doing very well, in 
short, their increase has been m.arvelous, 
averaging nine and one-half (9 1/2) pairs 
per year for the two years I have had 
them. I now have quite a flock, bred ex- 
clusively from the three pairs of mated 
birds purchased from you, but think it is 
about time to get some new blood in the 
flock, therefore will you kindly quote me 
your prices for birds from one to three or 
four months old, equal parts cocks and 
hens, so that I may turn them in with my 
young birds to prevent as much inbreed- 
ing as possible in that way. I want to say 
that I at first had some doubts as to the 
profits of the business, but must confess 
that they are even more than you have 
ever claimed." 

Some of our most successful customers 
are women. One writes us this summer 
as follows: "Enclosed find post-office 
money order for $7,08 paj'ment for the fol- 
lov/ing order: three dozen wood nappies, 
three bath pans, four galvanized iron 
drinkers. Ship by freight or express as is 
cheaper. Something over a year ago I 
bought twelve pairs of pigeons of you. 
Imperative duties have prevented my giv- 
ing them as much attention as I would 
wish, but they have increased and pros- 
pered with but trifling loss. There are 
now more than forty pairs nesting, and 
altogether a flock of something over one 
hundred and fifty. I have sold none, not 
having had time even to sort them out and 
send them to market. I hope soon to get 
into the lofts and put things in first-class 
shape and weed out all the culls. I am 
very well satisfied with my experiment." 

A customer in New York writes: "There 
have been two pigeon fanciers here this 
week who say they have no such fine stock 
as ours, nor have they seen anything like 
them." 

BOSTON PRICES.— The squab market is 
improving every year, and breeders every- 
where are getting better prices, even right 
here in Boston, the centre of the section 
where our business is done, and where the 
interest in squabs is very great. The 
following quotations from the Boston Daily 
Globe cover a period of nearly four years, 
and, as will be seen, prices are firmly 
maintained. New York prices are better 
than these: 

Mar. 28, 1903 $4.00 and $5.00 a dozen 

Apr. 25, 1903 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

May 23, 1903 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen 

June 27, 1903 3.-50 and 4.00 a dozen 

July 11, 1903 3.50 a dozen 

Aug. 22, 1903 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

Sept. 19, 1903 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Oct. 24, 1903 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen 

Nov, 14, 1903 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Dec. 5, 1903 4,50 and 5,00 a dozen 



SUPPLEMENT 



119 



Jan. 30, 1904 5.00 and 6.00 a dozen 

Feb. 20, 1904 4.50 a dozeu 

Mar. 12, 1904 5.00 and 5.50 a dozen 

Apr. 30, 1904 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen 

May 28, 1904 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

June 11, 1904 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

July 23, 1904 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Aug. 13, 1904 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Aug. 20, 1904 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Sept. 10, 1904 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

Oct. 8, 1904 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

Nov. 5, 1904 3.00, 3.50 and 4.O0 a dozen 

lyee. 31, 1904 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen 

Jan. 7, 1905 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen 

Mar. 25, 1905 4.50 and 5.00 a dozen 

Apr. 1, 1905 4.00 and 4.50 a dozen 

May 27, 1905 3.-50 and 4.00 a dozen 

June 3, 1905 3.-50 and 4.00 a dozen 

July 8, 1905 3.00 and 3.-50 a dozen 

Aug. 12, 1905 4.50 a dozen 

Sept. 23, 1905 3.00 and 3.50 a dozen 

Oct. 21, 1905 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

Dec. 16, 1905 3.00 and 4.00 a dozen 

Jan. 20, 1906 4.00 a dozen 

Mar. 31, 1906 4.25 and 4.75 a dozen 

Apr. 7, 1906 4.00 and 5.00 a dozen 

May 26, 1906 3. .50 a dozen 

June 16, 1906 3.50 and 4.00 a dozen 

July 28, 1906 3.50 a dozen 

Aug. 22, 1906 3.50 a dozen 

Oct. 20, 1906 3.50 a dozen 

Jan. 5, 1907 5.00 a dozen 

It will be noticed, in the above table of 
prices, that although the supply of squabs 
has greatly increased during the past five 
years, the demand for squabs created by 
our advertising has more than kept pace 
with it. Prices at this writing (Jan. 15, 
1907) are as high or higher than we have 
ever known them. 

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.— Not a few 
breeders raise squabs by the hundred and 
are successful in every detail of the man- 
agement of their plant except selling the 
product. Some beginners seem to think 
they will be perfectly helpless without 
the co-operation of some dealer. 

It is a shame to raise fine squabs and 
then sell them to some commission man 
or other dealer who immediately resells 
them, in most cases for double what he 
pay you for them. It is the steady 
practice of the dealers in Chicago, for in- 
stance, to pay from $2 to $3 per dozen and 
resell them for $3 to $6 per dozen. If you 
don't believe this is true, drop your role 
of a squab seller and go into these mar- 
kets to buy and you will see how much 
profit is being made off your goods. 

The squab dealers and commission men 
do not advertise for customers. The 
squabs are just as salable in your hands 
as in theirs. Many people would prefer 
to buy of the producer, being surer of a 
fresher and more satisfactory product. 

If you are producing squabs, by all 
means sell them to the consumer and get 
the price which the middleman is getting. 
It is essential, however, if you are going 
to do this, that you make it known in 



some way that you have got squabs to 
sell. Think of the rich people, the well- 
to-do people, the good diners around you 
or nearest you, and figure out for yourself 
a way of getting to them the information 
that you are selling something which they 
want and will buy steadily. Perhaps a 
neatly printed circular sent by mail will 
do it. Or an advertisement in the news- 
paper in your territory which will pro- 
duce results. Or you might pick out two 
or three likely families and make them a 
present of a squab or two to get them 
started. 

The products of the plants of hundreds 
of our small customers are spoken for 
ahead of capacity all the time by a 
neighborhood trade, and this is what you 
you should aim at. This is the way the 
finest butter and eggs and poultry are 
sold, and also squabs, and the plants 
of our customers who are selling squabs 
direct to the consumer are paying bet- 
ter than the plants of other customers 
whose product is marketed with poor 
judgment. 

Don't be too fast to sell to a hotel. 
Some farmers and breeders get the idea 
that if only they can find a hotel to take 
all their goods, their fortune is made. 
In every city there are one or more first- 
class hotels which want the best of every- 
thing and pay accordingly. On the other 
hand, there are many hotels which do 
not care for the .best. For example, few- 
hotels care for the best ducks, because 
a single dinner order is half a duck, and 
half of the big first-class, expensive ducks 
is more than a diner wants, so the hotel 
keeper of course prevents waste by buying 
a small duck. Same with squabs. The 
hotel buyers are sharp bargainers, and if 
they think that their trade will be satis- 
fied with a seven or eight-pound squab, 
they will take such a bird rather than pay 
more for a ten or twelve-pound squab. The 
average squab breeder, like the average 
farmer and gardener, is content to sell 
to the middleman, and if you make the 
acquaintance of a good one, of course you 
avoid some bother, yet it has been our 
experience that if is just as easy to sell 
squabs to the consumer as to anybody else, 
in fact, after you have got started with 
him he will come after you and pay you 
a great deal more than anybody else, still 
he is paying just what he always has 
paid, and he is better satisfied. Squabs 
are phenomenal sellers and it is well to 
take advantage of this condition, which 
is not always true of poultry, 

MR. McGREW CALLS.— The following 
is from the pen of Mr. T. F. McGrew, 
associate editor of the Feather, poultry 
editor of the Country Gentleman, also a 
widely-quoted writer for the government's 
bureau of animal industry, and a lecturer 
for the New York State Board of Agri- 
culture. He is one of the best known 
judges of poultry and pigeons in the 
United States. The visit to our our farm of 



120 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



which he speaks was made in November, 
1903; since then our stock of Homers has 
been increased. 

"It was our pleasure within the last 
two weeks to visit the home plant of the 
Plymouth Rock Squab Co., at Melrose 
Mass. We were beautifully entertained 
by Mr. Elmer C. Rice and his family. 
The buildings at the home plant are by 
far the best that we have ever seen for 
squab growing. Each building is con- 
structed for the best possible light, air, 
and sanitary conditions. Those who may 
be interested in squab growing will find 
it to their profit to communicate with 
Mr. Rice at Boston for the printed mat- 
ter which gives a full description of his 
plant and methods of doing business. 

"We saw at this plant 12,000 full-grown, 
well-matured Homing Pigeons ready for 
distribution for growing squabs. In all 
our experience we have never seen a bet- 
ter lot than these. They are large, vig- 
orous, full-breasted, broad-shouldered 
specimens such as one would selsct for 
producing squabs of the best character. 
There are Blues, Blue Checks, Silvers, 
Reds, and mixed colors such as would 
naturally be produced through the cross 
mating of any of these varieties. While 
we were there Mr. Rice shipped from 
the plant between five and six hundred 
birds, all of which are sent out in large 
roomj' baskets, the baskets returnable at 
the shipper's expense. So far as we can 
calculate, we are under the impression 
that Mr. Rice is doing a very large busi- 
ness. In addition to this we carefully 
perused a number of letters received by 
Mr. Rice from localities as far West as 
San Francisco, as far South as Florida, 
all of these communications speaking in 
the highest terms of the shipments made 
to them by Mr. Rice." 

RUNTS NOT DESIRABLE.— From the 
Farm Journal.— "Our remarks in the Octo- 
ber issue respecting the relative merits of 
large and small birds were put in a way 
to be easily misunderstood. 

"By large birds we meant runts ;ind 
that class, usually found only in the 
hands of fanciers and experts in pigeon 
breeding. They are not at all desirable 
for squab breeding. 

"Common pigeons are not hardy and 
prolific in proportion to their smallness. 
The largest of these should be selected 
for breeding always. 

"There is a great difference in the size 
and quality of what are called common 
birds. Where they are chosen as the 
basis of a squab ' breeder's business a 
careful selection should be made. 

"Of all the pure-bred types, we know 
of nothing superior or equal to the Hom- 
ers for breeding squabs. They are hardy 
and prolific and rear large, meaty squabs. 
There is also room for selection in Hom- 
ers, some being much larger than others. 

"When a breeder already has a flock of 



common pigeons he can greatly improve 
it by the infusion of Homer blood," 

USEFUL MESSENGERS.— We have quite 
a call for our birds from phvsicians hav- 
ing a country practice. They leave tvv^o 
or three birds at a patient's house to be 
let loose when the doctor's services are 
needed. In cases of expected confinement 
at a distance of several miles from the 
doctor's home, our birds are extremely 
useful. We earnestly advise country phy- 
sicians with a wide territory to cover to 
look into this matter and communicate 
with us. It will be money in then- 
pockets. 

DEMAND IN COLORADO.— We have 
had the same experience with the Western 
trade as the following writer in the 
Western Poultry World, of course 
excepting California, which is one of 
the best squab markets in the coun- 
trj'. What he says is conservative and 
sensible and bears out what we have al- 
ways maintained, that wherever there are 
men and women who are good eaters, 
there squabs will be eaten. If you live 
in a town where a squab never was seen, 
but where there are people who set a 
good table, to them you certainly can sell 
squabs: 

"Having been asked by your editor to 
write an article on pigeons or squab rais- 
ing, and also having said I would, I 
commence by stating a few facts which 
I have gained from both practical experi- 
ence and inquiries from Eastern breeders. 
In the first place, I want to say that lit- 
tle is known of this industry in the West, 
and in fact it has not been known in the 
East until about ten years ago, when 
they began to take it up about the same 
as the Western people are doing now. 
Many got discouraged at finding it was 
not a get-rich-quick scheme. 

"I am constantly having letters from 
different parts of the country asking me 
if squab raising pays, and saying that 
from inquiries they have made at meat 
markets and commission merchants, they 
are told that there is no demand for 
them. Of course there is not at the present 
time, for if there was fhey could not 
get them. No man can sell what he has 
not got. I once went to a gentleman 
and told him my plan of starting a squab 
farm, and he in tui-n went to his meat 
market and asked him what he thought 
of it. and he said I was either lazy or 
crazy. Now this man knew absolutely 
nothing of squabs, and never had any 
in his store, and, consequently, never 
had any calls for them. I dare say that 
if one were to go to every market in the 
city they would tell you the same thing, 
and nine out of every ten people would 
tell j'ou they had never eaten a squab in 
their lives; still I have people — come 
right to my door— who come a good dis- 
tance out of their way and want to buy 



SUPPLEMENT 



121 



squabs of me. The reason hotels and 
restaurants do not continually have them 
on their bill of fare is because they cannot 
be supplied at all times. Today they 
can get perhaps a dozen, and tomorrow, 
if they wish any, they cannot get them, 
and even then they are obliged to take 
common squabs and not Homers. As 
to the demand, I want to say right 
here, that I know one concern that will 
contract to take 400 dozen a week at 
good, fair prices. Two parties that I 
know of right here in this city are con- 
stantly in receipt of letters from hotels 
and clubs in Denver wanting to buy 
squabs. In the East, where there are 
ten squab farms to one in the West, the 
prices are higher than here. It is because 
of the demand." 

ELEGANT PROFIT.— The following is 
from Vick's Magazine, an article on squab 
raising by a practical breeder: 

"Of recent years the demand for the 
toothsome squab has been so great that 
the supply does not come up to the de- 
mand. Where years ago they were used 
only for invalids, now they are on the 
bill of fare in almost all restaurants and 
hotels. They command good prices at 
all seasons and an elegant profit is de- 
rived from them by the raisers. It used 
to be that pigeons could not thrive when 
housed up, but now the former obstacles 
have been overcome and better success is 
made where they are confined than wnere 
they have their freedom. 

"The squab business if conducted prop- 
erly will bring in a large percentage of 
profit considering the first capital in- 
vested. Only a few hundred dollars are 
required to start where such a sum would 
be nothing to commence in such a busi- 
ness as stock keeping, etc., and yet with 
a few hundred pairs of pigeons anyone 
with a little judgment can make a living 
for himself and family. Many farmers' 
sons could make nice yearly incomes by 
stocking a pai^t of their barn (not used 
for anything else) with pigeons. The 
risks are not so great as with chickens, 
but the birds must be atended to and 
not neglected. 

"With chickens one must not only feed 
the old, but must also give the little ones 
their meals, but not so with pigeon breed- 
ing. You feed the old birds, and they 
feed their young. One person can feed 
a thousand pairs of birds in about a 
quarter hour, the rest is left for the old 
ones to do. The little birds are fed from 
pre-digested food from the crops of their 
parents, who by a sort of pumping force 
the food into the squabs' mouths. It 
takes no longer time for a person to feed 
a lot of birds with young than it does 
without young. 

"After the squabs are four to five 
weeks old they are ready for market. It 
costs but one and one-half cents per pair 
for feeding birds a week and their young 
also, so with the prices received for the 



squabs, which ia forty cents per pair in 
summer to eighty cents per pair in the 
winter, one can imagine the percentage 
of profit. 

"Squabs of the largest size demand the 
highest market prices, so it pays to com- 
mence right by buying only good large 
stock. The amount of labor required is 
almost nothing, in fact unless very large 
numbers are kept, one will have only a 
few hours' work daily. The writer has 
nearly 2,000, and it takes only fifteen min- 
utes to feed and half an hour to give 
fresh water. Of course it takes a day 
or two a week for killing young ones, 
and a day or two each month for clean- 
ing buildings, then the work is about 
done. One person can attend 1,000 pairs 
nicely and have ample time to do other 
work around a place. The writer finds 
it a snap to other ocupations and one is 
his own boss and can go or come when 
he pleases. It is the business for a young 
man; he can advance as he saves money. 
There are some who commenced on a few 
dollars and by careful saving now operate 
plants of thousands of pairs of birds. 

"The larger the pigeon, the larger the 
squab, the higher the price. The breed- 
ing houses need not be heated artificially 
in winter as the birds can withstand any 
temperature and in cold weather sit upon 
their young until they are feathered suf- 
ficiently to stand the cold." 

ENLARGED HIS PLANT WITH 
PROFITS.— Experience of a Breeder Who 
Made it Pay From the Beginning.— 
In Country Life, a monthly magazine, 
one of the handsomest and highest-toned 
publications, the experience of a gentle- 
man in squab raising gives the following 
facts: "Six years ago I did not have a 
bird, but I invested fifty dollars in pur- 
chasing twenty-five pairs of extra-choice 
Homer pigeons, remodelling a poultry 
house for their accommodation. I had 
kept pigeons for pleasure for five years, 
previously, and felt that I knew a little 
about them. In these six years I have 
not invested another dollar excepting the 
dollars the birds have earned, and 
my present establishment of five houses 
and fifteen hundred pigeons, which has 
cost me two thousand dollars, is all paid 
for. In addition, for the last three years, 
I have paid out from five to seven dol- 
lars each week for the wages of a helper, 
to dress the squabs and clean the houses, 
for my regular business would not permit 
me to attend to these duties myself. 

"The concensus of opinion of all ex- 
perienced squab breeders stamps the 
Homer as the best pigeon for this pur- 
pose. This variety is strong and vigor- 
ous; a hearty feeder and good worker; 
bright-eyed, alert and active; stocky, sym- 
metrical and full-breasted, which counts 
so much in squabs. They are also pro- 
lific, and their squabs are full-feathered 
and fit for market in four weeks. 

"I was very fortunate in getting my 



122 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



first twenty-five pairs of birds. These 
were Homers, full-blooded, and had es- 
tablished records for flying, having taken 
first honors in several contests. 

"They not only averaged me seven and 
one-half pairs of squabs a year, but 
stamped their vitality on the birds r have 
selected from their young. - 

"As my profits accrued I purchased 
straight Homer stock, picking from the 
best near-by breeders, as Avell as those 
of established reputation at a distance. 

"I always put a lot of new birds in a 
clean coop by themselves, give generous 
supply of feed and water, and have 
plenty of nesting materials in the coop, 
and if they have come from a distance 
put a good poultry powder in their feed 
for the first meal, and let them alone 
for a few days. If they are strong, 
healthy birds they ought soon to begin 
to carry materials and build nests. 
When nest building is fully under way 
I transfer each mated pair to permanent 
breeding quarters. When I find a pair 
of birds mated, I call my assistant and 
tell him which bird to keep his eyes on, 
and not to lose sight of it a single In- 
stant. At the same time I note the other 
bird and catch it. I pass the caught bird 
to the assistant. He points out the other 
bird and it is soon caught. I band all 
purchases as well as those I raise. 

"My weekly expense for feeding m.y 
fiock of fifteen hundred pigeons during 
the month of December, 1903, was eigh- 
teen dollars and thirty cents for the fol- 
lowing: Three hundred pounds of cracked 
corn, three bushels each of wheat, peas 
and kaffir corn, one and one-half bushels 
of millet, one bushel of hemp and half a 
bushel of cracked rice. The rice I do not 
feed regularly, but give when the birds' 
bowels are loose, for which condition it 
is an excellent corrective. Feed is now 
much higher than last year. 

"Pigeon-keeping for squabs may fitly 
be termed a twentieth-century industry, 
for only during the last five years has it 
by its rapid development attained to the 
dignity of a special business. The busi- 
ness will surely still more increase dur- 
ing the first decade of this century. The 
price of squabs has been strongly main- 
tained during the five years just passed, 
notwithstanding the marvelous increase in 
the business. The business furnishes 
a way by which either men or women 
(for many of the latter have successfully 
taken up squab raising) can embark in 
an enterprise which does not call for se- 
vere bodily exertion and which if intelli- 
gently managed will yield good dividends." 

SQUAB-RAISING ON THE FARM.— 
Pigeons Kept in the Upper Part of Duck 
and Poultry Houses. — The following is from 
an article in the Country Gentleman, en- 
titled "A Combination Plant, Fruit, Bees, 
Fowls and Squabs": 

"For growing squabs some have sepa- 
rate houses, some use the lofts of old 



barns, and many are so constructing 
their poultry buildings as to have quar- 
ters for growing squabs in the second 
story of the poultry houses. This is 
gained by laying a flat roof on top of 
the poultry house, on top of this a double 
thickness of tar paper well coated with 
hot tar, with a board floor laid over it. 
This provides the floor for the pigeon 
house, the roof for the poultry house, 
and makes it absolutely vermin proof 
both ways. A large duck grower of our 
acquaintance has squab houses of this 
character built over his duck brooder 
houses and his poultry houses. Several 
thousand pairs of breeding pigeons are 
kept in this way, with a hanging outdoor 
flying aviary for the pigeons. When it 
has been successful on so large a scale, 
smaller growers need not hesitate In 
adopting such a plan. 

"Of course cleanliness, care and sani- 
tary conditions about the plant are im- 
perative. The most successful squab 
growers do not scatter sand or dirt of 
any kind on the floor or in nest boxes. 
Neither do they use anything but straw 
for the birds to build their nests. The 
droppings are all thoroughly scraped up 
from the board floor, from the nest boxes 
and under the perches once or twice a 
week with a hoe, and stored away in 
bags and sold at 50 to 60 cents per bushel. 
Thej^ are used by tanners in making tne 
very best grades of leather. These drop- 
pings are of no value when mixed with 
tobacco stems, shavings, sawdust or 
sand. Grain or feed of any kind if mixed 
in with them will not injure their value, 
nor will some little straw or feathers 
count much against their value. Buy a 
good sharp hoe; floors constructed in this 
way can be thoroughly cleaned by scrap- 
ing up once or twice a week, and in this 
way the sanitary conditions will be of the 
very best. 

"Those who do not care to dispose of 
the droppings in this way in some in- 
stances spread from six to eight inches 
of soil from their land over the floor of 
the squab house. This is allowed tO' re- 
main from three to six months. Usually 
at the end of the moulting season all the 
nest boxes and. the whole house is thor- 
oughly cleaned out and the entire con- 
tents of same dumped on the floor, 
scraped and hauled away and scattered 
over the land. This makes an excellent 
fertilizer. We know of one instance 
where a large number of squabs are kept 
in this way, and the house is cleaned but 
twice a year. In the spring all the clean- 
ings from the house are hauled out and 
spread over the land for the growing of 
summer crops. After the fall moult, the 
place is thoroughly cleaned up for win- 
ter, the cleanings of the house are 
stored away in a dry place and re+ainpd 
until spring. Many persons would call 
this a filthy, unhealthful way to keep a 
squab house, but some of the most suc- 
cessful breeders follow this plan. The 



SUPPLEMENT 



123 



presence of the five or six inches of dry 
soil on the floor keeps it in good condi- 
tion throughout the season. The cloud 
of dust that is raised at times by the 
pigeons' flapping their wings and flying 
about is almost a certain guarantee 
against insect attack. However, we do 
not advise this method. We simply give 
the facts as we have seen them. 

"The only limit to tha extent of such a 
plant is the ability of those who possess 
it properly to care for and manage all 
its branches at a profit. Where there is 
a family of boys and girls it might be 
well to engage the attention of all in 
growing these several kinds of products, 
and to lend encouragement to each by 
giving him a share of the profits. Scat- 
tered all over the country are thousands 
of families in country places continually 
worrying and wondering why they cannot 
keep their children at home. The 
real reason so many of the young people 
leave the farm is that they are compelled 
to work continually and never receive 
any portion of the income for their 
labor. If the parents would allow their 
growing families to make an equal sum 
of money or in proportion to what they 
can make by leaving home, there would 
be far less complaint on this score. All 
children wish to have the privilege of 
earning a few dollars that they may call 
their own." 

The following paragraph is from the 
same paper in its report of the New 
York pigeon show, January, 1904: 

"There seems to be a depression in the 
sale of high-class pigeons. Well-favored 
specimens of the highest character still 
sell at top prices, but the absence of any 
commercial value for a large number of 
pigeons that are grown detracts from 
the numerous sales that their producers 
might have. If producers of the hun- 
dreds of varieties of beautiful pigeons 
would turn into the market as squabs the 
greater part of all their product that was 
not valuable for the exhibition room, 
greater returns would come for those 
which were saved for exhibition purposes. 
There is a grand stride forward in grow- 
ing squabs. The combination of poultry- 
growing with squab-growing works well, 
and is being adopted by so many small 
farmers as to create an unusual demand 
for all grades of pigeons that are good for 
this purpose. 

"It is well for those who go into the 
squab business to remember that the 
price is graded by size and quality. Dur- 
ing winter squabs that would average 8 
or 9 pounds to the dozen have sold at 
retail in the New York market at from 
35 to 40 cents each, while those which 
averaged two or three pounds less to the 
dozen sold at from 12 1-2 to 20 cents. It 
takes quite as much time and as much 
care and food to produce the small speci- 
mens that bring the lower nrices as it 
does to produce the higher grades which 
bring the better prices. People are be- 



ginning to find this out, and taking ad- 
vantage of the knowledge, are looking 
about for the best quality of pigeons to 
produce the best market squabs." 

SQUAB PIN-MONEY.— The following 
paragraph appeared in the January, 1901, 
issue of the Designer, a monthly maga- 
zine for women published by the But- 
terick Publishing Company of New York 
City: 

"A young woman of my acquaintance 
has kept herself supplied with hats, boots 
and gloves during the past year by sell- 
ing the squabs of six pairs of Homer 
pigeons. They require very little care, 
and the young are ready for market when 
four weeks old. My friend is so well 
pleased with her success that she has 
added seven pairs to her stock, and confi- 
dently expects to dress herself completely 
on the sum derived from the sale of her 
squabs. — M. P." 

THEY FLEW HOME.— A dispatch from 
Paris, printed by the Baltimore Sun, saj'-s: 
"A man named Maraud complained to 
M. Brunet, Police Commissary for one of 
the districts on the south side of the 
Seine, that he had been robbed of six 
valuable carrier pigeons and said that one 
of his friends had seen them at the house 
of another man. 

"The magistrate went to the place in- 
dicated and there saw some birds. 'How 
did you come by them?' he asked of the 
man. 'Oh, I bought them months ago,' 
was the reply. 

" 'Well, bring them to my office,' said 
M. Brunet. There he had a wax seal at- 
tached to each bird's leg and the birds 
liberated. 

"They flew back to Meraud's house and 
an hour later the thief was on his way to 
the police depot in the black maria." 

SQUAB INDUSTRY'S GREAT GROWTH. 
— Address Delivered Before the New Jer 
sey State ' Board of Agriculture.— Years 
ago when poultry and egg pro- 
duction was being first advocated exten- 
sively, there were many fears expressed 
that the business would be overdone, that 
chickens and eggs would come to be com- 
mon and low priced, and the fear that 
there would be no money in the business 
no doubt kept many out of it. Neverthe- 
less, more and more have gone into 
poultry and eggs year after year, and 
millions of dollars' worth of both are 
marketed yearlJ^ Whole communities, 
like Petaluma, California, are given up to 
poultry and eggs. Eggs got as high as 
sixty cents a dozen in the large cities 
the past winter (1904). 

Some people not informed as to squabs 
think that if many go into squab raising 
the prices are going to drop until there 
is no profit in the business. On the con- 
trary, prices for squabs have been in- 
creasing every year here in the East, and 
they are going to increase in the West in 
the years to come. Consumers who have 



124 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



read our advertising all over the coimtry 
are eating squabs who never ate them 
before, and the effect of our advertising 
on the general squab market everywhere 
has been to boost prices. Well-to-do 
people who are led to get into the habit 
of having squabs on their tables keep on 
ordering them, and tell others, and thus 
the market grows. 

If all the Homer breeders we have sold 
during the years we have been in busi- 
ness were concentrated in one plant, we 
could sell the entire squab output of 
that one plant to any one of a hundred 
commission men in one of the large 
cities. 

New Jersey is doing well with squabs. 
Other states, notably California, Iowa, 
Wisconsin, Michigan and Masachusetts 
are producing a great many. Just what 
is being accomplished in New Jersey comes 
as a surprise to people who look upon this 
business as something new and untried. 
At the annual meeting of the New Jersey 
State Board of Agriculture in January, 
1904, an address was given by Mr. G. L.. 
Gillingham on squab raising, in the course 
of which he said: 

"The production of squabs for the mar- 
kets of our large cities is an industry 
that is reaching considerable proportions 
in this state. And, although it is growing 
yearly, yet the prices seem to be advanc- 
ing; showing that there is an unlimited 
demand. 

"The great scarcity of game all over 
our country compels the keepers of first- 
class hotels and restaurants to look for 
something to take its place, and at the 
same time be sure of a supply at all sea- 
sons of the year. Therefore they have 
hit upon the squab to fill this void, and 
now when one calls for quail on toast, or 
order of a similar nature, it will very often 
be found that the quail was raised in a 
pigeon loft, and is much younger, more 
tender and juicy than the quail would have 
been, could it have been secured. 

"This is a business that can be carried 
on in connection with poultry raising, 
and is one that may be conducted upon 
village lots by women and young per- 
sons, if need be, and by those whose other 
business takes their attention during the 
middle portions of the day, as the labor 
connected with it is not heavy. It is 
particularly adapted to women who wish 
to add something to their income. In 
fact, women are more apt to succeed^ in 
it than most men, as it requires close 
attention to the little things, as it is the 
many little things that go to make up 
the final profits at the end; as women 
are generally more patient and thorough 
with small details they will be more suc- 
cessful. 

"The extent to which this business is 
conducted in some parts of our state may 
be shown by stating that in one town 
in Burlington County of about 3.000 
inhabitants, the purchase of one dealer 
the past year was 56,582 squabs, for which 



he paid $16,400; while another dealer bought 
perhaps a little over half as many more, 
bringing the aggregate to 86,000 squabs, 
for which the people of that town re- 
ceived nearly $25,000; while another single 
grower in the same country shipped from 
his own lofts between 13,000 and 14,000 
birds. 

"The cost of feed and care for a work- 
ing loft of pigeons is about $1 per pair 
per year (manure not sold). Some put it 
much lower, but at the present prices of 
feed, if proper care is given, we should 
not figure not much lower than $1. A good 
pair of birds will produce from seven to 
ten pair of squabs per year; generally an 
average of not over eight pair. The 
prices have ranged the past year from 
25 cents for the poorest, to as high as 75, 
80 and 90 cents for the best, putting the 
number raised at the lowest (seven pairs) 
and the average price at 40 cents, we 
have $2.80 for the $1 invested yearly after 
the first cost of investment for build- 
ings, etc., which need not be expensive, 
according to tlie taste and means of the 
builders and the amount of capital he 
wishes to put into it. The houses should 
always be placed where the drainage is 
good, preferably upon a dry knoll, facing 
the south or southeast. Some paying lofts 
have been made by fitting up unused 
wagon house or wood house lofts, or over 
hen houses. Other houses have been con- 
structed for poultry on the ground floor 
and the story above for pigeons. In this 
case great care must be exercised to have 
the floor well laid with planed and grooved 
flooring, to keep vermin from passing up 
from the poultry. 

"Very large flocks should not be kept 
in one room. From 50 to 100 pair is 
enough to keep together for the best re- 
sults, preferably the former. A room 
10x12 is ample for 50 pair of working 
birds. A house may be built of any 
desired length, 12 feet wide and divided 
into apartments of the above size by wire 
partitions with doors hung on spring 
hinges, to facilitate passing through in 
feeding. 

"These houses should have windows on 
the south, of sufficient size to afford 
ample light in all parts of the house and 
no more, as too much glass makes the 
house too cold on the winter nights. 

"As each pair require two nests, as they 
are generally sitting in one while raising 
young in the other, there should be twice 
as many nests as pair of birds, with eigh- 
teen to twenty to spare, that they may 
take their choice. 

The period of incubation is eighteen 
days, the hen bird sitting on the eggs, 
excepting about four hours each day, when 
the male takes her place, while she is 
feeding and resting. 

"During incubation a substance forms 
in the crop of both birds, known as pigeon 
milk or curd, on which the young are 
fed for the first five or six days, until 
they are old enough to digest the grain, 



SUPPLEMENT 



125 



which is carried to them in the crop of 
the old birds, and ejected from their 
mouths to the mouth of the young bird 
by the same process as the pigeon milk 
is fed in the first place. Hence it is im- 
portant that the proper feed be given, 
which should consist of a variety of grain 
and seeds, the larger the variety, the 
better. These should consist of cracked 
corn, rather coarse (preferably about three 
or four pieces, from a single kernel), 
with the fine sifted out. This should be 
kept before them in troughs or hoppers, 
so constructed that they cannot throw it 
out and waste it, which they will fre- 
quently do in search of other grains of 
whicli they are more fond. The other 
seeds should' consist of whole corn, Can- 
ada peas, Kaffir corn, hulled oats, millet 
and hempseed. These should be fed on the 
floor twice daily, just what they will clean 
up quickly, feeding the hempseed but 
twice or three times per week, except 
in the moulting season, when a small 
quantity may be fed each day, as hemp- 
seed is very fattening, and when 
fed in excess bad results may fol- 
low. Do not feed wheat too liberally, 
and always mixed with other seeds, using 
the hard, red wheat and never new wheat, 
as it has a tendency to loosen the bowels 
of the young birds with sometimes fatal 
results. In connection with the feeds, 
the birds should be furnished with ground 
oyster shell for grit, also a liberal sup- 
ply of salt and small bits of charcoal 
and gravel. The salt is necessary to keep 
them in good health. These substances 
may be kept in small boxes around the 
house where the birds can have free access 
to them. 

"A generous supply of pure wat^r 
should be kept before them at all times 
near the feeding trough, and should be 
supplied each morning before feeding, 
that the old birds may have access to it 
immediately after feeding, before taking 
the feed to their young. 

"In stocking the houses, always avoid 
using common breeders, as the results 
will be disappointing. They are not pro- 
lific and are more liable to produce dark 
squabs, which always bring the lowest 
price in market, and do not feed the 
young as well as the full bloods. The 
best all-round bird for squab raising is 
the straight Homer, as they are the most 
active, good workers, quiet disposition, 
and the best of feeders. 

"The Runt is the largest of pigeons, 
but a very slow worker, seldom producing 
more than four pairs of squabs per year. 
They make a good cross with Homer and 
Dragoon, but even then will not produce 
as many birds as either of the others 
alone. 

"The squabs are dressed for market 
once a week, on regular shipping days. 
They are dressed just before they are 
large enough to leave the nests, and when 
they are full-feathered, and should weigh 
at this time eight pounds per dozen, this 



size commanding the highest price, the 
prices falling off very fast, as the size 
drops from this weight. The squabs 
should be dressed with empty crops. They 
may be cauglit in the early morning be- 
fore feeding, and dressed, or caught the 
evening beiore, after the old biras have 
fed them for the night, and kept in ham- 
pers until morning, when their crops will 
be just in the right condition. 

"After the young birds are two or three 
weeks old, the old birds build another 
nest and begin to sit again, the male bird 
taking most of the care of the young un- 
til they are ready to dress; hence the im- 
portance of supplying two nests for each 
pair. Thus a good pair of working birds 
have a pair of young and a pair of eggs 
a large portion of the time. 

"During the summer months the birds 
should be furnished with a shallow tub of 
water in which to take a bath, two or 
three times par week, which will help 
them to keep free of vermin. These tubs 
should be emptied after they have bathed, 
as they should not be allowed to drink 
the water in which they have bathed. 

"With good care, properly constructed 
houses, wholesome food, never sour or 
tainted, very little disease should be en- 
countered. Prevention is better and more 
easily administered than cure. Some of 
these are dry houses, pure water, regu- 
larity in feeding and cleanliness. The 
water buckets should bs washed out fre- 
quently with creoline water, made by 
adding a teaspoonful of creoline to one 
quart of water. This will kill any dis- 
ease germs that may be present, and is 
a good disinfectant. 

"Give good care, not neglecting the 
small things, as it is the multitude of 
these wherein the profit lies. 

"The demand for squabs is constantly 
increasing and any one entering into this 
business and willing to give it the atten- 
tion it requires will always find a profit 
on the right side of the ledger. But re- 
member this profit will be according to 
the care and intelligence put into the 
business." 

NEW YORK MARKET.— The following 
is taken from the New York World, an 
article on squabs, published in August, 
1904 : 

Squab-Raising as a Fine Art.— Game 
Laws Make Propagation of this Small Bird 
a Remunerative Business,— Palates Demand 
Substitute for Quail and Other Morsels 
that Statutes Forbid.— Few persons, even 
among the devotees of late suppers in New 
York's high-priced restaurants, in look- 
ing over their elaborate menus and select- 
ing, say, a squab on toast, realize what a 
tremendous industry the Broadway taste 
for a large cold bottle and a small hot 
bird has developed in the United States in 
recent years. 

The industry may, indeed, be considered 
in itself in a squab state, but such has be- 
come the after-theatre demand for the 



126 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



tasty little birds that many business men 
have turned from less lucrative pursuits 
to devote their energies to their raising. 

It would be impossible to state pre- 
cisely hovi' many squabs are annually 
bred in the United States, but it is esti- 
mated that hundreds of thousands reach 
the tables and tickle the palates of lux- 
ury-loving and extravagant people. 

The best of judgment in regard to qual- 
ity and quantity of feed is essential, 
cracked corn and red wheat being the 
staple food. Kaffir corn, Canada peas, 
buckwheat and millet comprises about 20 
per cent, of the food in winter, and in the 
summer less corn but more wheat. Grit 
and salt are before the birds always. 

At the age of four weeks the squabs are 
ready for market and are deliciously ten- 
der, as they have never learned to fly, 
and their muscles have not had the hard- 
ening influence of exercise. The killers 
now get busy. With a slip noose around 
the feet, and wings locked on the back, 
the squabs are suspended from a rack. 
A killing knife is inserted well into the 
mouth and a quick, deep slash made at 
the back of the throat, allowing the bird 
to bleed freely. 

An expert can kill and rough pick about 
four birds before they get cold. The 
squabs are next dropped into a galvan- 
ized iron tub, through which a constant 
stream of water flows, which cools the 
birds. Then a small hose nozzle is in- 
serted in the mouth and water allowed to 
flll the crop, after which it is withdrawn 
and a quick pressure forces everything 
out. A second use of the hose thoroughly 
clean&es the crop. Two more immersions 
in iced water make the birds ready for 
local shipment. 

In the Lenten season commission houses 
buy and ice thousands of dozens of- squabs 
for winter trade. That is also the tim.e 
squab raisers select and save the best 
stock for breeders. 

Many of the live birds, especially the 
Homers and red Carneaux, cost from $2.50 
to $6 per pair. 
^ Prices for squab in New York City run 
■from $4 per dozen in the early seasom to 
$5.50 and $6 in the winter. 

TWO TEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH 
OUR BIRDS. — "Will you kindly, send us 
price-list and such other printed matter 
as you have issued within the past year? 
You will remember we bought six pairs of 
you one year ago last July. We have 
about 124 now and are disposing of all the 
squabs we can raise at three dollars per 
dozen. All of our birds are not laying yet 
but will soon mature. We have lost sev- 
eral when they were young birds, then we 
had some stolen (one of which came back). 
One bird had a peculiar substance form 
around the outside under the bill. Will 
you tell us if this was canker? We dis- 
posed of the bird at once. We did not try 
to treat it at all. The people here know 



very little about fine squab, but I believe 
the market is growing better right along. 
Feed is much higher here than in the 
East. We have to pay $1.75 per 100 for 
cracked corn, $2.15 for red wheat, $1.75 for 
Kaffir corn and about $5 for hempseed, so 
that $3 per dozen does not bring in a very 
large profit. Would you advise our raising 
the price? We hope to send you another 
order shortly. We have not tried to use 
the manure at all. We have had no 
trouble with our birds as to vermin. They 
seem to keep entirely free from it."— Mrs. 
H. D., State of Washington. 

TO MONTANA IN GOOD ORDER.— "I 
received the crate of pigeons yesterday. 
They were all alive and in good health." — 
J. F., Montana. 

FINDS OUR BIRDS FAST BREEDERS. 
— "On Sept. 16, 1902, I ordered six pairs 
Extra from you and now (Aug. 30, 1904) 
have about two hundred old pigeons and 
squabs together, and will want to begin 
shipping a few before long. Wish you 
would please give me the names of a lot 
of desirable squab buyers in New York and 
other nearby cities. Do you think prices 
will be better later on in the fall, and 
which is the best way to ship them, dead 
or alive? Can I get shipping crates al- 
ready made? If so, where, and at what 
price? Thanking you in advance for this 
information."— W. E. H., North Carolina. 

HAD NO TROUBLE RAISING THEM.— 
"Last spring, in April, I think, we bought 
twelve pairs Extra for thirty dollars of 
you. '.At present we have eight-five in all, 
or about sixty young birds that we have 
raised ourselves. We would not think of 
selling them as we have had very go<od 
success and are much interested in the 
business, but through sickness I lost my 
former position in this village and have 
now secured a permanent one in Chicago, 
and expect to move there in a few weeks. 
Expect to locate right in the city and con- 
sequently will have no facilities for keep- 
ing the pigeons, and so are anxious to 
sell. The birds are as healthy as when we 
received them, as we have followed Aery 
carefully the rules laid down, in caring for 
them, and have never seen any signs cf 
disease among them. Have lost only com- 
paratively few. and those were small ones 
which were neglected by mother birds, or 
by some accident. Quite a large number 
of our young birds have mated and have 
bred the latter part of the winter."— R. F. 
G., Michigan. 

GETTING SIX DOLLARS A DOZEN.— 
"Two of the six pairs have now hatched 
out three squabs, two on February 4th and 
one on February 7th (the other egg evi- 
dently was chilled by the extreme cold 
weather). The market price in Newark is 
six dollars a dozen, and we have con- 
tracted to sell these three squabs at that 



SUPPLEMENT 



127 



price. They are fat and very satisfactory. 
We are very much encouraged and wish to 
increase our flock." — F. C, New Jersey. 

THK TRUTH ABOUT THE MARKETS. 
— "I received your Manual and have read 
it through very carefully. I have found 
that it tells the very truth. I was in 
Washington Market and there they told me 
just the same, they will take all the 
squabs I can give them. I think I will 
give you an order next month for 48 pairs 
Homers and one gross nappies."— H. , T., 
New York. 

ATTRACT ADMIRATION IN CALIFOR- 
NIA. — ^"Birds arrived on the 11th safe and 
in first class condition for the length of 
their trip. I am well satisfied with the 
birds and expect to give you an order for 
more before long. Everyone that has seen 
them thinks they are fine."— E. J., Cali- 
fornia. 

OUR METHODS IN SOUTH AFRICA.— 
"Enclosed find fifty cents for which please 
send me a copy of National Standard 
Squab Book. Perhaps it may interest you 
to know that this is to assist in the raising 
of squabs in South Africa."— L. E. D., 
Pennsylvania. 

YOUNGSTERS ARE BEAUTIES. — "I 
have fifty or more pure Homers from the 
original old birds purchased from your 
concern. These youngsters are beauties 
between the ages of six months and one 
year."— B. R. D., Long Island. 

IN PERFECT CONDITION.— "My 

mother bought one dozen pairs of your 
birds a year ago and now has about sixty 
in flock. They have been well cared for 
and are in perfect condition."— T. A. B., 
Kentucky. 

A NEWS-AGENT'S SIDE LINE.— "I 
have been doing a little business that I 
did not have time to tell you about in my 
last letter. I have boys in several of the 
towns around here to get squabs for me 
and I have made arrangements with the 
above firm to deliver those that I don't 
sell myself, on commission. The hotel has 
an order for 1.50 per week. Besides this 
order I sell to several restaurants and let 
the market deliver to the houses. I am the 
only one here who buys squabs to any ex- 
tent, and average 2W to 300 per week. I 
make from $5 to $7.50 each week this way, 
besides what I make on the train. How is 
that for a news agent running a tram 
every day from 11 P. M. to 1.15 A. M. ?" — 
B. D., Texas. 

HAS OVERSOLD HIS SQUAB CAPAC- 
ITY.— "Could you supply me with two 
dozen first-class squabs for shipment from 
Wooster on or about December 22? I have 
an order for that amount, and while the 
birds I purchased from yeu are doing fine. 



I will not have enough. Have orders for 
breeders and squabs enough to keep the 
flock working overtime until spring, at 
which time I expect to enlarge my plant 
to at least 500 pairs. I could of course fill 
this small order from nearby markets, but 
Homers are Homers, and I don't care to 
depreciate the value of my flock by ship- 
ping inferior squabs."— C. D. Z., Ohio. 

THE MAN HE WORKS FOR IS MAK- 
ING MONEY WITH OUR BIRDS. — "I see 
in the Poultry Keeper that you offer a 
squab book free, so I would like to have 
one, for I have squabs myself and I would 
like to learn how to raise them. I am only 
a boy and I am working for Mr. Fairbanks 
on his farm. He told me that I could 
write to you and ask you for a book. I 
know the chicken business very well, but 
not the squab business. Mr. Fairbanks 
bought pigeons from you last year (eighty 
pairs Extra shipped August 4, 1902), and he 
is doing fine with them, so good-bye and 
don't forget the address. That penny is 
for a stamp, and the other stamp is for the 
letter."— W. H., Missouri. 

A LONG SHIPMENT IN GOOD ORDER. 
— "Your two letters dated January 27th 
were received yesterday, February 1st. I 
went to the express office early this morn- 
ing and found the pigeons had arrived in 
the night. The birds are all alive and in 
fine condition but two, one of which was 
bruised and I fear its wing is broken. I 
thank you for the extra two pairs and for 
the crates. I have a fine new squab house 
built according to your plans, only the fly- 
ing pen runs up to the top of the roof, 
which I think a better plan for this damp 
climate. I may send for one or two dozen 
pairs more by spring."— Mrs. E. N., State 
of Washington. 

A PERFECT SHIPMENT OP HOMERS 
TO FRANCE. — "The pigeons arrived this 
day in perfect condition, but I am sorry to 
say I have neither the nappies nor the 
bases. I duly received your letter of De- 
cember 16th which I answered at once. I 
have this day written to Puritan Line of 
steamship asking for information concern- 
ing the non-arrival of the nappies." — G. 
D., France (Europe). 

DOING WELL.— "The pigeons purchased 
of you last fall are doing well. Am in im- 
mediate need of more wooden nappies."— 
F. C. J., Massachusetts. 

GOT ONLY TEN CENTS EACH FOR 
SQUABS BUT MADE MONEY.— "I built 
two rustic seats for a neighbor for three 
pairs of Homer pigeons, and put them in a 
pen eight by eight feet. They increased 
at about a pair of squabs a month. We 
turned the young ones out as soon as they 
were able to fly. We soon had a flock of 
pigeons of about fifty or seventy-five. Sud- 
denly we found that we could sell the 



128 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



young ones for ten cents apiece and the 
butcher took them off the nest for us. We 
killed the three original pairs as we did 
not wane any in coops. I built a pigeon 
house sixteen feet high and ten feet square 
on the ground, two stories. The birds 
come in at the top and nest where they 
please. I took up a homestead seventy 
miles north. On this my whole family 
lived for most of the time. While we were 
away from this place, the butcher came 
regularly and took away the squabs and 
left the money or his account with a 
neighbor. We never kept any account of 
the profit of these splendid birds except 
last year, when the profit was $34.50, and 
the feed would not amount to a dollar, as 
they fly out and rustle their own feed. 
My wife feeds them a little to make them 
friendly. I have a large wagon shed and 
they used to nest in this. I shot some of 
them and they have never bothered me 
there now for two years. They are wise 
and I think thy can talk. As a compari- 
son of profit between chickens and squabs, 
we had a coop of chickens that required 
constant care. After deducting $19 for 
chicken feed, the profit on them was $33. 
The chicken coop and corral is quite a 
distance from the pigeon house and the 
pigeons never feed with them." — W. S. M., 
California. 

NEYER LOST A BIRD BY SICKNESS. 
—"In June, 1902, I got twenty-four pairs of 
you, paying sixty dollars for them. I have 
never lost a bird by sickness. I killed one. 
He was ailing and did not look well, so I 
killed him. This was three or four months 
after I got the birds. Right off after I 
got them I raised twenty-five pairs, then I 
began to kill squabs, as I had no room. I 
sold the first lot of squabs in February, 
1903, and got 25 cents apiece at first (this 
was much too low), then I sold for 30 
cents apiece until May, 1903. I should say 
I sold in all 150 squabs up to May 1. From 
that time on the marketman to whom I 
was selling refused to give me more than 
18 cents apiece, so I rigged up a new place 
and put forty pairs in there, then I sold 
a few more. Since then to now (November. 
1903) have sold about 60 to 75 squabs. I 
have sold only squabs, but the other day I 
sold six pairs of breeders for two dollars 
a pair. All the 24 original pairs I got of 
you have kept working. I have three or 
four pairs which have made a nest almost 
every month since I have had them. Thev 
had eleven nests, others four or five nests 
a pair. I have eighty-eight pairs of breed- 
ers now. I have eot confidence now to go 
ahead and am going to start a large plant 
in the country and will buy some more 
birds of you." — H. C, Massachusetts. 

A YOUNG WOMAN'S SUCCESS. — "A 
year ago last July I received from you 
one-half dozen pairs and paid you $15. I 
have tried to take good care of them and 
they have increased till now I have some 



one hundred young birds. I did not tiy to 
sell any of them as I wanted to let the 
flock grow. I took good care of the young 
birds mating and so there are not any of 
them that are related to each other now 
that are breeding. I had built for them a 
gond warm house according to your du'ec- 
tions and they have done very well. Some 
few died during this winter, but I think 
they were crowded and so the older ones 
would push the little fellows out of the 
nest and they froze during the night." — 
Miss E. M. C, Kansas. 

A GOOD HEALTHY FLOCK.-"I bought 
24 pairs Extra of you a little over a year 
ago. I now have besides the 24 pairs about 
40 pairs of mated birds, all leg banded. 
Also I have about one hundred young 
birds and all but about thirty of these will 
be old enough to mate by the first of April. 
All of these are leg banded and are good 
healthy birds in first-class condition."— E. 
A. H., Iowa. 

GOING TO MAKE AN EXHIBIT.— "My 
birds that I received of you in July and 
August are doing fine, and as there is a 
poultry show here in this city next month. 
I thought perhaps I would show a few of 
them. Could you give me any pointers on 
putting them on exhibition?" — E. G., 
Michigan. 

EXPERIENCE DEARLY BOUGHT.— 
"You may possibly think I am doing con- 
siderable correspondence without doing 
much trading, but I wish to get your ad- 
vice in regard to a little matter. Last 
April I purchased seventeen pigeons of a 
friend of mine for .$5.95. I knew nothing 
except what your Manual taught me about 
the business. I purchased in the fall of a 
westerner what were supposed to be twenty 
pairs of Al Homers, but they proved to 
be a poor mess. The westerner also proved 
to be a dead beat. The next man I tackled 
was in your state, who shipped me twenty- 
four pairs Homers for $36. Well, at pres- 
ent I have fifty-three to fifty-five pairs cf 
birds and about thirty-five to forty head of 
young stock. Now I see where I am lame, 
and where I made a big mistake in not 
buying your best breeders, if I had only 
purchased one-half the number. I wish to 
get rid of what I have. I have a large 
house and wish to fill it with the best 
stock obtainable."— M. D., New Yorls. 

NEW JERSEY SEES WHAT REALLY 
PLUMP SQUABS ARE. — "The 400 pairs of 
pigeons I got from you are hale and 
hearty. By actual cotint I have ninety- 
eight pairs of eggs and squabs, besides the 
squabs ready to kill, which number is, 
however, very small. Taking the lateness 
of the season when I got the birds and the 
extreme cold we have here, I think the 
outlook all right. What do you say? 
Everybody is stuck on the plumpness of 
the squabs when dead and their bright and 
fine appearance when alive."— J. B., New 
Jersey. 



SUPPLEMENT 



129 



OUR PROMISES MEAN SOMETHING.— 
"Thank you for prompt, kind and sat- 
isfactory way of settlement, in answer to 
our letter to you. If all dealers would as 
satisfactorily adjust claims similar to ours 
as you have done, there would be a much 
easier feeling ainong purchasers. This 
action on your part shows that your guar- 
antee is just what it says. Again thanking 
you for your business-like settlement ot 
our claim." — R. B. M., Pennsylvania. 

BOUGHT BIRDS THAT NO ONE 
ELSE WANTED AND FOUND THEM 
INDEED CHEAP. — '-About four years ago, 
my son, now 16 yeai-s old, got the pigeon 
fever, and I must admit I caught it my- 
self. He first put up a dry goods box and 
bought a few birds. He showed so much 
interest in them I thought it would be a 
good pastime and bought him more birds, 
and erected a house as per enclosed sketch. 
Like most beginners, we wanted a vari- 
ety and we were foolish enough to buy 
them anywhere, and presume we got what 
no one else wanted. We spent quite a few 
dollars and our last purchase was from a 
fellow in Pennsylvania, who had 'more 
than he wanted,' and we bought them 
because they . were cheap, and they 
were cheap, or I had better say 
they were mighty dear. The pigeons 
never had a nicer home or better 
feed. I try to do right what I un- 
dertake, everyone of our friends said we 
would succeed, but we made a miserable 
failure indeed. My wife saw your adver- 
tisement, sent for some literature, we then 
sent for your squab book, which we just 
received, and read it with considerable in- 
terest. The fever has slightly returned, 
not as hard as at first, but I honestly be- 
lieve that had I your stock in the first 
place, we could now tell a different tale. 
After my wife read your book, she said, 
'I believe I can do all right with that 
kind of stock myself,' so I have encour- 
aged her, as she feels that it would be 
pastime for our two boys, and I was cer- 
tainly fond of the birds when we had 
them. Send along the nappies and just as 
soon as we can get rid of the truck we 
have, and straighten house up, we will bs 
ready for the Extra Homers. I believe 
there is a great opportunity offered in 
squab raising, and we are going to try 
it."— E. G., New Jersey. 

READ OUR RULES TO THE EX- 
PRESS AGENT AND GOT A REBATE 
OF ONE-HALF. — "The pigeons came to 
me Monday afternoon and seem to be none 
the worse for the long journey. They are 
beauties and I find it almost impossible 
to keep away from their pen, but I sup- 
pose the novelty will wear away. I 
should have written yesterday, but the 
express agent had overcharged me and I 
wanted to settle the matter, if possible, 
without bothering you. I am glad to say 
I was able to persuade him he was in the 



wrong, and after reading your card he 
refunded half my money. Thank you for 
the very prompt attention you gave my 
order."— Mrs. R. B., Florida. 

STRAIGHT BUSINESS METHODS.— 
"Birds arrived (this order was the second 
order from this customer, six months after 
the first order) in good condition, and are 
now housed. The birds look fine. I thank 
you very much for the extra pair, some- 
thing that I did not expect you to do un- 
der the circumstances, as it was no fault 
of yours of those birds going light. I 
also thank you for the information and 
will try and save the bird by your method. 
To get even with you I shall show my 
birds to all and mention E. C. Rice. 
Thanking you again for prompt shipment 
and straight business methods."— W. D., 
Ohio. 

AN OLD CUSTOMER HEARD FROM.— 
"I am still raising squabs and like my 
pigeons better than ever (this customer 
has been with us going on three years). 
Am having good success raising them all 
through this awful cold weather, and they 
seem healthier than when it is warmer. I 
enclose check for which please send me 
wooden nappies. If you have anything 
new in the way of literature kindly send 
me some, as I want to keep in touch with 
you. Have you supplied birds to anyone 
around hare lately? Our visit to your 
squab plant last summer is pleasantly re- 
membered by wife and I."— F. L. B., New 
Jersey. 

NICE BIRDS.— "The pigeons arrived in 
fine condition and seem to like their new 
home very much. Thank you for select- 
ing me such nice birds. Hope the bas- 
kets reached you safe."— Mrs. J. P. A., 
Virginia. 

BEAUTIFUL BIRDS GOT TO HIM 
QUICK.— "Birds received yesterday noon, 
all in fine condition. Put them in their 
house last night. All took a good bath 
this morning. I thank you for your 
promptness and for sending me such 
beautiful birds. I had not expected birds 
so soon, but was ready."— P. M. R., Kan- 



SQUABS SUPERIOR TO POULTRY.— 
"I am an old pigeon and squab and poul- 
try man. I have made money with squabs, 
and I think they are superior to poultry." 
— H. S., Massachusetts. 

FLORIDA PURCHASER DELIGHTED. 
—"Pigeons arrived O. K. Saturday night. 
I am delighted with them, and as I have 
followed your instructions as to building 
house, pen and other articles, the birds 
seem to be at home."— M. F. B., Florida. 

THEY ARE BEAUTIES. — "Received 
pigeons all O. K. They are beauties and 



130 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



have begun to nest,"— F. M.. Ohio. 

A TEXAS CUSTOMER'S APPRECIA- 
TION.— "Your second shipmant of Homer 
pigeons was received yesterday and like 
the first, in excellent condition, and I am 
more than pleased with them. Although 
my dealings with you, when compared to 
some, of your large customers, are rather 
insignificant, I can't allow this oppor- 
tunity to pass without expressing to you 
my thanks and appreciation for your fill- 
ing of my orders. For square dealings, 
conducted solely along sound business 
lines, you are without a peer in the 
pigeon world today. I most heartily rec- 
ommend you to all."— S. A. F., Texas. 
(The writer of this letter is a well-known 
Texas business man, connected with one 
of the largest corporations in that state.) 

WON SUCCESS ALSO BY DOING AS 
WE DO; NEVER HAD A SICK BIRD.— 
"Some time ago I bought a dozen pairs 
of Homer pigeons from you and paid $20 
for them, and I want to get about four 
or five dozen more pair, and would like 
to know the price you ask for them at 
present, so I can send the money at once. 
I find your book on the pigeon industry 
covers the pigeon business in good shape. 
I have always found when j^ou start to 
make a new pie or cake, follow the di- 
rections of the people that have made a 
success. Consequently, I have not had 
a sick pigeon since I received them some 
eight or nine months ago. The only dif- 
ference I made was in the house, and in 
that the only difference was not to make 
it quite as tight as they are made in your 
locality. Hoping to hear from you soon." 
—James W. C, California. 

ANOTHER WOMAN PLEASED.— "The 
birds came on the afternoon of the 6th. 
They are all very handsome. Soma of 
them are beautiful. You will be surprised 
to learn that in less than 24 hours two 
pairs were nesting. They have been very 
busy all day."— Mrs. R. L. U., New York. 

INCREASING FAST.— "Enclosed find 
$1.70 for leg band outfit. I am receiving 
excellent results from the birds and they 
are increasing so fast that I find it neces- 
sary to band them." — H. C. K., Mary- 
land. 

OUR HOMERS ADVERTISE THEM- 
SELVES.— "For the enclosed $15 ship by 
National Express six pairs Homers, 
equally as fine birds as you sent on 
August 3 last year, ten months ago, to 
Ben Barber of this place,"— J. B. H., New 
York. 

MANUAL WORTH FIVE DOLLARS.— 
"I am in receipt of your Standard 
Squab Book and am very much inter- 
ested in the work. I find that every time 
I pick it up something new seems to ap- 
pear. In fact, the whole subject is cov- 
ered, so far as I am able to judge, and I 



consider the work well worth five dollars 
instead of your dinky price of only fifty 
cents. There is a squab plant between 
here and San Francisco, four thousand 
birds. Their output of squabs, twenty 
dozen per week, all go to the Palace 
Hotel, San Francisco. I- think prices for 
squabs are lower here than in the East, 
still I believe there is money in it."— J. 
L. S., California. 

ONE YEAR'S SELECTION. — "The num- 
ber of breeders have increased to about 
fifty pairs from those I purchased from 
you about a year ago (fifteen pairs), and 
all are good breeders, as I have been par- 
ticular to raise those from the best breed- 
ers only." — H. W. C, Michigan. 

BREEDING THROUGH THE WINTER. 
— "Spv^ral months ago I purchased from 
you 8. number of your best Homers. They 
have been doing fine, breeding right along 
through this severe weather; in fact, my 
fiock has more than doubled."- L. Z., 
Ohio. 

OUR MANUAL OF GREAT HELP TO 
HIM.— "Some little time ago I sent for 
your National Squab Book and afterwards 
for six dozen of your wood nappies. Since 
then I have been keeping my pigeons ac- 
cording to your instructions and with 
great success. I had some fine, pure-bred 
Homers and have been getting squabs at 
four weeks averaging twelve ounces. I 
have had them up to 13 1/2 ounces. You 
strongly urge the adoption of all methods 
that will reduce the time necessary to 
look after the birds, and I heartily agree 
with you."— C. C. C, California. 

FROM A NEW JERSEY CUSTOMER.— 
"Anything new in the pigeon line? If 
so, send it to me. I am raising lots of 
squabs."— F. L. B., New Jersey. 

SQUAB BUSINESS A SUCCESS.— "My 
father is in the squab business in a town 
in this state. His business is a success, 
but I would like to have him give your 
birds a trial and so have decided to make 
him a present of a dozen."- H. L. T., 
Iowa. 

GOOD WORDS FROM A COMPETI- 
TOR. — "We have associated your splendid 
achievements and capacity with our 
dogged determination to remain in to the 
death, and by elimination have differen- 
tiated both of our establishments from 
the pretentious and ephemeral plants that 
come and go. Vv'e are a long way from 
feeling otherwise than modest, and yet 
we realize that in about eight months 
we have got a good plant, a good stock, 
a good name and a good trade, and do 
not owe a dollar. All the same, this has 
been regretfully on our sole, unaided in- 
experience, and your skill has been a 
loadstar of hope, suggesting that perhaps 



SUPPLEMENT 



131 



same day we might hit upon the course 
which you have tal^en and follow it. If 
this business shall ever be trustified, we 
shall wish to be near you, and in any 
event we have nothing but desire for your 
continued bi-illiant success, and that we 
shall be worthy compeers."— C. F., New 
York. 

WONDERFUL FECUNDITY. — "Here is 
$3.84, for which please send me four 
dozen wood nappies by Barstow's ex- 
press. My pigeons bought of you a year 
ago are doing fine. I bought six pairs 
of you a year ago and have now (Julv 
.5, 1904) 175 birds. I had 100 stolen. But 
for this misfortune I would now have 
275. I have 400 or 500 hens as well as 
the pigeons."— N. J. G., Massachusetts. 

RAISED A HUNDRED.— "Will you send 
me your prices on grain of all kinds? 
My birds are doing fine now. I have about 
one hundred birds raised from the ones 
I bought of you (twelve pairs). As soon 
as I get started in good shape I shall 
buy more breeders from 5-ou. I have not 
sold any yet as I have been raising them." 
— H. A. H., Massachusetts. 

OTHER HOMERS NOT LIKE OURS.— 
"I enclose my check for $1.50 to pay for 
leg band outfit, and 20 cents additional 
for postage. My birds are continuing to 
do fine, and I am more pleased than ever 
with them. I was out last night calling 
on a man who claimed to have Homers. 
They looked more like eommon street 
pigeons than my Homers. All these things 
tend to encourage me, when people can 
breed such birds profitably. I know mine 
will show up much better. Please give me 
a few names of New York dealers in 
squabs." — W. M. G., New York. 

PERFECTLY SATISFIED. — "Pardcn me 
for not writing before, but I have been 
away from home since the birds came, 
until within a few days. I am perfectly 
well satisfied with the Hoiners you sent 
me. They are as fine a lot of birds as 
I could wish to see. Half of them are 
nesting now and I think that they want 
to work as quickly as could be expected. 
We have taken great pains to make their 
house warm, clean and convenient. I in- 
tended to order more birds before this 
time but have been unable owing to sick- 
ness in my family. However, as soon as 
I get straightened round again I intend 
to order more breeding stock and work 
my flock up to 150 pairs as soon as pos- 
sible."~L. A. C, New Jersey. 

ENCOURAGED TO GO ON AFTER 
EIGHT MONTHS' TRIAL.— "Kjndly quote 
me price on leg band outfit. I have lost 
circular which you sent me. The birds 
I got from you last fall (eight months 
ago) are doing fine, one pair especially, 
breeding regularly four weeks. I hope to 
, have larger quarters and will then place 



order for more birds."— F. J. G., New 
York. 

A PLEASURE TO DO BUSINESS 
WITH US.— "The two dozen pairs of Ex- 
tra birds ordered Thursday night arrived 
Saturday morning. It certainly is a pleas- 
ure to do business with you. I am de- 
lighted with the prompt service you have 
rendered, for which I beg to thank you. 
The birds are a fine lot, and they arrived 
all in the best condition. I am convinced 
that you make a special thing of each 
order sent you. Will return the baskets 
tomorrow." — E. S. F., New York. 

NEVER SEEN BETTER PIGEONS.— 
"Several men who have seen my birds 
have said that they have never seen a 
healthier or finer lot of pigeons anywhere. 
The reason they are in such healthy con- 
dition is simply this, that I have followed 
your method to the very letter, and hence 
the result."— B. W., New York. 

SEVEN MONTHS OF STEADY IN- 
CREASE.— "In May last I bought of you 
a dozen pairs of Homer pigeons which 
proved a great sucecss, as I now have 
thirty or forty young birds flying at large. 
What I want to know is, can I let out 
my old ones? I have a fine large fiying 
pen for them, but if you think they will 
stay with me if I give them their free- 
dom, I would like to do so. They have 
now been in their present quarters nearly 
seven months."— W. L. J., Maine. 

THANKS FOR EXTRA HEN. — "This is 
to advise you that our second order of 
breeders was received on the morning of 
the 24th in prime condition. We wish to 
thank you both for your promptness in 
filling our order, and also for the extra 
hen sent to replace the sick one of our 
first lot." — W. E. M., Pensylvania. 

NEVER SEEN LARGER, FINER OR 
MORE VIGOROUS BIRDS. — "The Homer 
pigeons ordered from you on Saturday- 
last arrived today, Tuesday, about noon, 
apparently in excellent condition, and I 
believe I have never seen larger, finer or 
more vigorous looking birds. Please accept 
thanks for your careful consideration and 
quick shipment. For promptness you are 
certainly a wonder."— J. H. B., Delaware. 



SHIPPED IN EXTRA FINE SHAPE.— 
"I received from you last evening at 7 
o'clock 208 birds, all alive and so far as 
I can see in good condition. This morning 
one is choked and stupid, but I think 
will come out all right' later. I am very 
grateful for the extra fine shape in which 
you crated, labelled and fitted them for 
their journey. I will send back your 
baskets this date all in fine shape. I 
have received evedything else ordered, all 
in fine condition."— J. C, Long Island, 
New York. 



132 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



SENT HIS FRIEND TO US. — -'Please 
send me a pass to visit your plant at Mel- 
rose February 27th, and one for Mr. Bur- 
rows. Mr. B. intends buying- birds soon. 
Mine purchased last April are doing nice- 
ly."— E. L. S., Boston. 

HE IS RECOMMENDING OUR BIRDS. 
— "Enclosed you will find a money order 
for which please send me wooden nap- 
pies. I would like to have them as soon 
as possible for my birds are beginning to 
lay. I was over to your pigeon plant in 
Melrose and bought a few pairs and I 
think that they are the real stuff. They 
are doing fine. Please send me a pass 
for two, as I would like to visit your 
plant again, and I am recommending your 
birds."— A. L. R., Massachusetts. 

STARTED SMALL AND IS NOW CON- 
VINCED.— "Please give me your best 
price on 100 pairs, giving an estimate of 
the weight and express charges on same. 
My birds are doing finely. All young 
birds are larger than the parent birds and 
workers."— G. C. D., Michigan. 

THE CHILDREN ARE BETTER THAN 
THEIR PARENTS.— "I have forty-eight 
birds raised from three pairs I bought of 
you, far ahead in looks and activity than 
those you sent me."— Mrs. C. L. P., Con- 
necticut. 

HAS RAISED SQUABS TEN YEARS.— 
"I have received your Manual and it is 
beyond my expectations. I have raised 
squabs for about ten years from common 
pigeons."— J. H. M., Pennsylvania. 

EXPERIMENT A SUCCESS. — "My hus- 
band is going into the business. He 
bought some Homers of you last summer 
and intends buying more."— Mrs. G. W. 
P., Massachusetts. 

THEY GROW UP IN • INDIANA ALL 
RIGHT. — "I now (December 1, 1903) have 
over eighty Homers from the eight pairs 
I purchased from you last spring. They 
are all in the very best of condition." — 
R. T. M., Indiana. 

IN PINE SHAPE ALL THE WAY TO 
OREGON. — "I write you to acknowledge 
the receipt of the birds. Th^ • arrived on 
the morning of November IS and were 
turned into their new quarters on the 19 th, 
and I guess they were very glad to get 
out of the baskets and stretch their wings 
which they did in great shape and a num- 
ber of them took a bath as soon as it 
was presented to them. They all seem 
to be in fine condition after their long 
journey."— H. J. T., Oregon. 

GOOD RESULTS IN SIX WEEKS.— 
"By actual count I find we have the 
following results today, six weeks after 
the arrival of the pigeons: Forty-two pairs 
of squabs and sixty-seven pairs of eggs 



in the process of being hatched."— I. -B., 
New Jersey, 

VERIFIED STATEMENTS AS TO COST 
OF FEED. — "My little experiment justifies 
the statement of your book as to cost of 
feed. If you will answer my query as to 
capacity of my house I shall greatly ap- 
preciate the courtesy."— F. B. S., Ore- 
gon. 

COMMON PIGEONS DO NOT PAY FOR 
KEEP.— "I have studied squabs for two 
years and have had good luck with them. 
I have read your book and think it is 
good. If I had a price list I would get 
some Homers. I have always had good 
luck, but common pigeons do not pay for 
the keeping."— H. K., Michigan. 

AN ALABAMA BOY PLEASED. — "The 
birds arrived safely on the 24th and in 
good condition. We think they are a 
very nice lot of birds. As I am a boy 
of only fifteen years, I expect to follow 
your advice given in your magazines, and 
would appreciate any further advice you 
could offer me. As I have a little more 
money on hand, I may order some more 
birds soon. Thank you for your prompt 
delivery."— W. L., Alabama. 

THREE HUNDRED BIRDS RAISED 
IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM 
THIRTY-SIX PAIRS. — "Our birds shipped 
by you Feb. 12, 1903 (thirty-six pairs), 
have done very well. We have now (Jan- 
uary 12, 1904), over three hundred and 
they are laying and hatching all the time. 
We are going to buy some more before 
very long and move our plant out onto 
our thirty-acre farm. I think we will 
do some more business with you. Please 
give us the name and address of the peo- 
ple who buy pigeon manure. We have 
some to sell."- S. M. M., Indiana. 

FIVE DOLLARS A DOZEN FOR THE 
SQUABS PROVE THE QUALITY OF 
OUR HOMERS.— "I wrote you the first of 
the week for price of fifty pairs of Hom- 
ers ready for hatching. Not receiving any 
answer, I think you did not get the let- 
ter. Please give me figures by return 
mail, and if you can ship at once. The 
Horners I bought from you two years ago 
are doing finely, also those I hatched from 
them. They are very large and hand- 
some. Shipped some dressed squabs last 
week to New York and they returned 
five dollars per dozen, which proves the 
quality of the goods. Hoping to hear from 
you soon."— A. C, Connecticut. 

OUR STOCK THE BEST TO BE HAD. 
— "I find I will not be in the market for 
more birds as expected, as my flock is in 
good shape, but have recommended your 
company to several prospective purchas- 
ers. Do not know, however, what result 
this will bring. I am glad to say that I 



SUPPLEMENT 



133 



have every confldence in your dealings, 
as I am much pleased with every article 
■ I have purchased from you from time to 
time and will not hesitate a moment to 
buy stock from you if in market for same, 
as I believe your stock to be the best that 
can be had."— O. C. S., Michigan. 

IN FINE CONDITION, PERFECT 
BEAUTIES.— "Please excuse delay in ac- 
knowledging receipt of birds. They were 
delivered to me in fine condition and cer- 
tainly are perfect beauties. They seem 
to enjoy their new quarters. I must con- 
gratulate you on your promptness in ship- 
ping orders. With me it was the quickest 
move I have ever seen, considering the 
distance. The same day I ordered poultry 
from a breeder in Jamesbury, New Jersey. 
Both letters were posted late Friday af- 
ternoon. The pigeons arrived Monday 
morning early, while the poultry did not 
arrive until the following Thursday. I 
was much surprised at the difference." — 
J. H. B., New Jersey. 

KINDNESS TO A BEGINNER. — "We 
thank you for the kindness you have 
shown us in our inexperience." — F. H. W.. 
New Hampshire. 

PLEASED WITH HER INVESTMENT. 
— "Last April I purchased of you some 
Homers. I have had good success with 
them as far as the laying and hatching 
are concerned, and am very much pleas?d 
with my investment."— Mrs. L. G. S.. 
Ohio. 

STOCK TO BE RELIED ON.— "In talk- 
ing with my friend, Mr. C. F. Peters, 
about going into the poultry business, he 
advisad me to write you about the squab 
business, saying he knew you would do 
as well if not better by me than anybody, 
and I could rely on your stock and what 
you might wish to tell me about the busi- 
ness. I have read your works and think 
you have the right idea about the busi- 
ness."— C. A. G., Illinois. 

THREE WEEKS OLD AND WEIGHED 
OVER A POUND.— "We weighed one of 
the first pair of squabs from the birds 
bought of you when it was just three 
weeks old, and it held the scales at just 
seventeen (17) ounces. Pretty good, was 
it not?"— Mrs. B. K., State of Washing- 
ton. 

A PINE LOT OF BIRDS.— "The last lot 
of pigeons which I ordered from you were 
received Monday morning in splendid con- 
dition after their long journey, and are 
a fine lot of birds. I will send you in a 
few days another remittance, in addition 
to the one already sent." — J. L., Louis- 
iana. 

SEES THE IMPORTANCE OP KNOWL- 
EDGE AND GOOD STOCK.— "Just read 
your book and saw how foolish we were. 



We had seven dozen mixed birds, some 
common and some Fantails, and some 
Runts and Homers. We were ignorant 
about the kind, and only had about eight 
or ten squabs in six months, so we sold 
them to the first person that came. Now 
I would like to start fresh again and get 
about a dozen pairs of your Homers. 
What would the express be to Alameda ? 
Kindly let me hear from you immediately, 
as I would like to have some pigeons."— 
Mrs. M., California. 

DOING BETTER AS HE GETS EX- 
PERIENCE.— "Enclosed find postofiice 
money order for which please send me 
leg band outfit and extra tubing. From 
the twelve pairs of Homer pigeons I 
bought from you about May 1, 1903, nine 
months ago, I have seventy-two birds all 
told, old and young, and ten pairs set- 
ting. According to this rate I ought to 
have, I think, at least sixty pairs by 
May 1. That will be an increase of five 
to one. I have lost so far four young 
birds and four settings of eggs, but I 
hope to lessen this this year."— E. B. 
G., North Carolina. 

PREFERS OUR HOMERS. — "I am very 
proud of my birds, they are so tame and 
pretty. I can get Homers around here, 
but I would rather have them all from 
your place. Please send at your earliest 
convenience." — Miss B. D., New Jersey. 

NO MORE CHEAP BIRDS FOR HIM.— 
"Herewith I enclose fifty cents worth of 
stamps, being in payment for one of your 
Manuals. In May last I started in the 
squab raising business and never owned 
a pigeon before. I naturally have made 
some few mistakes, both in building a 
house and selecting birds. I am going to 
sell out if possible, if not incurring too 
much loss, which, being a poor man, I 
cannot afford to do, and if successful I 
shall buy land and build, and also buy 
the best birds I can find, even though it 
be only a few pairs. I now have 150 pairs 
all mated, working nicely, stove in house, 
eight-pound squabs, seventy-five cents per 
pair Philadelphia market. As I said be- 
fore, I am poor, but not a cheap man. I 
want the best, M'hich of course after giv- 
ing proper food and attention I should be 
rewarded both in stock of squabs and 
prices."— S. B.. Pennsylvania. 

A FRIEND'S FLOCK DOING WELL.— 
"Enclosed find express money order. I 
am sure you will send the best birds. I 
find the Manual very instructive. Mr. 
Connelley's flock which he obtained of 
you is doing fine."— C. L., South Caro- 
lina. 

STOCK THE FINEST HE HAS SEEN. 
— "My home is in Buffalo, N. Y. I am 
stopping in this city (Atlanta, Ga.), tem- 
porarily. It is my intention to establish 




MATING COOPS IN MATING HOUSE. 
We have a thousand mating coops in our plant. This illustration shows how 
they are arranged in a house, several tiers high. 



134 



SUPPLEMENT 



135 



a squab plant in the vicinity of Buffalo. 

I have been to look over Mr. 's plant, 

which is very flne, and the stock is the 
finest I have seen. He informed me that 
you furnished the stock (five hundred 
pairs), an entire equipment. My present 
intention is to start with not less than 
300 pairs."— P. H., Georgia. 

IN FIRST-CLASS CONDITION.— "The 
birds arrived yesterday in first-class con- 
dition, all alive. Thanks for the extras." 
— R. W. B., State of Washington. 

A NOVA SCOTIA CUSTOMER.— "The 
Homers arrived safely today, and I am 
very much pleased with them. They are 
a fine lot of birds."— J. H., Nova Scotia. 

KIND AND CORDIAL METHODS.— 
"Many thanks for your kind and cordial 
methods of doing business, and if I find 
that the conditions here are suitable to 
squab raising, I shall be wanting some 
more stock before long. So far I am very 
well pleased, and the birds you sent are 
certainly well worth the prices you quote." 
— D. T. S., Kentucky. 

CHICKEN INDUSTRY NEEDS A MAN- 
UAL LIKE OURS.— The Manual sent me 
is the most complete and concise work 
on the subject of squab raising I have 
ever read. I doubt whether there is a 
book written on any subject of its kind 
so complete in all its detail. I would be 
willing to give most anything for a like 
account of how to succeed with chickens. 
If you know of any such work I would 
consider it a personal favor if you would 
kindly send me the title and where to get 
it. I am glad to have in my possession 
such a book as the Manual, it is a pleas- 
ure to read it. Of course it's business, 
but I think it wonderful that you should 
give such valuable information to the pub- 
lic."— J. H. J., Pennsylvania. 

"SAME AS YOU SENT BEFORE."— 
"Enclosed you will find $1-5 for six pairs 
of your best breeding Homers that breed 
white squabs, the same as you sent be- 
fore."— F. P., Virginia. 

FROM FIFTY DOLLARS TO' FIFTY 
CENTS. — "Please send to us as soon as 
possible 48 nappies. We shall want 48 of 
your Extra Homers as soon as these nap- 
pies reach us, and if conditions prove 
favorable, hope to buy a thousand birds. 
I think there must be money in this busi- 
ness. 1 wrote a squab raiser in Iowa, 
asking if he would show me through his 
farm, and he replied that he would for 
fifty dollars. I enclose fifty cents for a 
National Standard Squab Book, which 
kindly send me." — A. D., Minnesota. 

MAKING MORE MONEY WITH 
SQUABS.— "The nappies have not yet 
come. I have quit the railroad and gone 
into the squab business. We are going to 



send for some of your Homers soon and 
let what %ve have raise with a fe^"' addi- 
tions occasionally until the Homer trade 
gets rooted. I am now making more with 
pigeons than while working for the com- 
pany, or rather, I am making a good liv- 
ing and putting in a large stock of 
pigeons." — S. D., Texas. 

OUR CLAIMS PROVEN TO HIS SAT- 
ISFACTION.— "Last February, 1903, I 
bought a small lot of adult Homers from 
your company and am satisfied they are 
all you claim for them. Being desirous of 
getting along faster in the business, I have 
advertised for additional capital in a New 
York City paper, and have had nearly two 
dozen inquiries about the industry." — A. 
D., New Jersey. 

A HUSBAND WAITS FOR THIS 
YOUNG WOMAN.— "November, 1902, I 
bought twelve pairs of your Homers, now 
I'm sorry to say I must give up the idea 
of the squab business, and wish to know 
if you care to buy them and what you will 
pay. I have ninety birds, and sold some 
last summer. I think your birds have 
done very well. I would not have any- 
thing but your Plymouth Rock Homers." 
—Miss E. J. D., New York. 

A TEXAS WOMAN FINDS THEM 
EASY TO RAISE.— "I have now (January 
7, 1904), raised one hundred from those I 
bought of you (six pairs Extra sold De- 
cember 11, 1902.)"— Mrs. R. M. H., Texas. 

ONE HUNDRED PAIRS IN MON- 
TANA'S COLD WEATHER.— "The squab 
breeders arrived here all safe and well in 
spite of the cold snap Monday noon. We 
are much pleased with the flock. Number 
is correct, 208 birds (only two casualties). 
They certainly are having a fine initiation 
to Montana weather. The mercury stood 
thirty-two degrees below zero last night 
and has been below since their arrival." 
— W. H., Montana. 

DEALERS ADVISE HIM TO BUY OF 
US. — "About a year ago I bought your 
Manual and plans for squab houses. I 
have been studying the book thoroughly 
and find it very complete in every detail 
and 'out of sight' as compared with 
others I have seen. I am compelled to 
move to Southern California and will try 
squab raising. What discount do you give 
on 300 pairs of your best birds? I have 
been somewhat used to stock raising, in- 
cluding poultry. I am advised by dealers 
in Los Angeles to get my stock from Bos- 
ton, even at the expense necessary. While 
no names were mentioned, I presume they 
referred to you."— W. W. D., Minnesota. 
(Correct. We have shipped to California 
within the past few years thousands of 
pairs of Homers and at all the places in 
California where squabs are sold and 
eaten, the product of our Homers is 



136 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



wanted because they are the best in the 
market there.) 

USES THE HEALTH GRIT.— "Please 
send me by American express one hundred 
pounds Health Grit, for which find $2 
enclosed. My pigeons are doing finely and 
I now have 7.5 in addition to my original 
lot, and the young ones are hatching out 
squabs."— W. L.. J., Maine. 

HE IS PLEASED WITH US AND OUR 
BIRDS.— "I am so much pleased with the 
birds I got from you and the bright pros- 
pects of the squab industry, that I feel 
interested in getting some of my friends 
started in squab raising. The last ship- 
ment of squab breeders reached me in 
splendid condition and are very fine birds. 
I am very lAuch pleased with the selec- 
tion and j-our good judgment. All your 
stock, birds, supplies and dealings with 
me in the past have been so satisfactorj' 
that you maj- expect more orders from me 
and my friends in the future. I have 
raised and sold pigeons and pet stock for 
years, so of course am capable of judging 
good stock when I see it, and I consider 
your squab breeding Homers the best that 
can be bred for successful market squab 
breeding. Trusting that you may con- 
tinue to have much success in this worthy 
business."- L. E.. Virginia. 

THEY EAT OUT OF HER HAND. — "I 
enclose money order for more nappies. I 
like my pigeons better every daj-. They 
are so tame now they will eat out of my 
hand."— Miss L. V. P., New York. 

THREE MONTHS' WORK.— "We are 
going to move this week to California. 
The six pairs I bought of you in March, 
three months ago, have all nested and 
done fine, and I have raised 24 young birds 
from them."— Mrs. H. B. S., Massachu- 
setts. 

ALL THE W^AY TO VANCOUVER.— "I 
received my birds on June 8 and all of 
them were in fine condition except one 
hen, which seems to be a little stupid. 
My express charges were all right. Thank 
you for the free birds. Hoping that I will 
be able to send for a few more soon." — 
G. A. L.. Vancouver. 

HAS SEEN HOW OUR BIRDS WORK 
IN HIS TOWN. — "I am sending you here- 
with money order for $31.. 50. for which 
please send me 12 pairs of your Extra 
Plymouth Rock Homers, and two of your 
drinkers, same as you sent me before. 
I have seen two different lots of your 
Homers in this city, and although I have 
some good ones that are rapid breeders 
and raise large squabs, I am so much 
impressed w'ith the work that Mr. Bar- 
rett's Homers (purchased of you) are do- 
ing, that I have gone to work and fitted 
up two more breeding pens to accommo- 



date some of your stock."— W. H. M., 
Massachusetts. 

ALL AT WORK IN SIX WEEKS.— 
"Whoever took the pair of pigeons from 
the basket must have been an expert in 
determining the sex and mates, as every 
one of them, that is, twelve females, have 
eggs and are setting. Don't you think 
this is strong evidence that two pigeons 
never were taken from the basket during 
transit? I will make no claim against 
the express company. I feel very posi- 
tive they are not at fault. The shipment 
reached me six weeks ago." — C. S., Ohio. 

liXCREASING HIS FLOCK.— "The 

twelve pairs of breeders that I bought 
from j-ou last fall are beginning to lay 
very nicely and I am very much pleased 
with them. Please send me six more 
pairs, in payment for which 5'ou wall find 
money order enclosed."— H. W., New 
York. 

A LARGE SHIPMENT TO CALI- 
FORNIA.— "I received all the birds (312 
pairs) without one being dead, and the lot 
seems to be in splendid condition, on the 
whole, after such a long journey. It 
seems wonderful to me that none was 
dead with all the rough handling they 
must have received on such a long jour- 
ney. The birds are beauties and attract a 
great deal of attention."— P. W., Cali- 
fornia. 

QUICK WORK HATCHING. — "The 

Homers I got of you are doing finely; re- 
ceived May 1, five weeks ago, and I have 
a dozen or more squabs from the dozen 
pairs."— J. F., New Jersej\ 

FINEST HE EVER SAW. — "The Extra 

Homers arrived today in first-class shape, 

and are the finest I ever saw."— L. C. Y.. 
Maryland. 

UNABLE TO FILL ORDERS FOR 
HOMERS. — "The writer has bsen engaged 
in selling Homer pigeons for squab breed- 
ers for the past several months, but my 
stock is now almost completely exhausted 
and I am unable to fill my orders. Have 
just received an order from Hot Springs, 
Arkansas, but as I make it a rule not to 
attempt to fill orders for birds which I 
do not haA'e in my own lofts, have de- 
clined the order and referred the cus- 
tomer to your company. He wants fifty 
pairs, and would suggest that you get 
into correspondence with him. Trusting 
that you may be able to get the business." 
— G. C. S., Ohio. 

OUR PIGEONS AT THIS LARGE 
SHOW IN 1906 MADE A CLEAN SWEEP 
OF THE PRIZES.— Plymouth Rock Squab 
Co., Boston, Mass. Gentlemen:— Pardon 
the delay in not answering about the safe 
arrival of the birds. The show w^as a big 



SUPPLEMENT 



137 



success and over nine hundred entries were 
registered. I had a nice coop fixed up 
and brought the entire flock of fourteen 
birds. They behaved fine and did not 
mind tha close confinement after the first 
day. One of the pairs laid two eggs. My 
fiock took first, second, third and fourth 
prizes, also one for the largest flock of 
one exhibitor (which was |3), and the 
white birds took first prize over three 
other pairs. The judge was high in praise 
of the birds and their markings. I un- 
derstand you have sold some birds to Mr. 
Marsh, who has heard about my success 
and is to start with one hundred pairs. 
The pigeons sold several months ago to a 
doctor of Warren were through my 
recommendation. Thanking you again for 
past favors, I remain, etc.— Mrs. R. C, 
Pennsylvania. (The pigeon exhibition to 
which she refers was held in February, 
1906.) 

OFFERED FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR 
FOR THE BIRDS.— "Pigeons arrived 
August 29th in good condition and I thank 
you. I am well pleased with the birds; 
they are the finest flock I have ever seen. 
The teamster who brought them out from 
Seattle informs me a man on the way 
offered him five dollars a pair for the 
birds. Had I been with him, I surely 
would have taken him up, and made 
nearly $100 by the bargain. You may ex- 
pect another order from me in a month 
or six weeks for one hundred pairs, and 
then I shall have enough breeders to 
commence with." — C. C, State of Wash- 
ington. 

We have had quite a number of letters 
similar to this one, and from other infor- 
mation which wo have in regard to the 
Western market for breeders, we know it 
to be a remarkable one. Anyone who 
buys our fine birds can find a purchaser 
who is willing to pay in many cases much 
more than the difference in express 
charges. We receive numerous" requests 
from wholesalers who wish to sell our 
birds in their territory, but we sell all 
the birds we wish to at retail, to the ex- 
tent of our capacity, at one price to all, 
and do not supply such dealers. We are 
shipping at least one order a day the year 
round to California or the State of Wash- 
ington. 

OUR HOMERS ARE PRIZED BY 
FANCIERS AS WELL AS SQUAB- 
BREEDERS.— Our Homers sell on their 
merits as squab breeders, but they are 
first-class flyers, able to win in any com- 
pany. At the New York and Chicago Na- 
tional Pigeon shows in January, 1904, in 
competition with the whole country, 
Plomers sold by us and exhibited by our 
customers were the best birds there. In 
awarding the first prize. New York show, 
class of Blue Homer Cocks, the judge 
said: "Grand one; the best bird in the 
ring today to my way of thinking. He is 
a larg'e, fine-colored Homer with almost 



perfect head, broad shoulders and wedge- 
shaped body, nice eye and fine dark cere. 
This cock also won the cup for best 
Homer shown, and this honor was not 
new to him, as he did the same trick at 
Lawrence earlier in the season." 

The class of Blue Checker Cocks at the 
New York show was the largest. "A 
finer class of Blue Checker Homers we 
have never seen," said the judge. The 
first prize in this large class was awarded 
a Homer from our coops exhibited by one 
of our customers with the following com- 
ment by the judge: "Grand-bodied, up- 
standing bird, elegant head and eye with 
the most perfect checkering I ever saw 
on a Homer, but for being a trifle light 
(in color) on rump he would be hard to 
find fault with." 

In awarding the first prize in the New 
York show, class of Blue Hens, to a hen 
sold by us and exhibited by one of our 
customers, the judge said: "This class 
outside of the winner was not bang-up. 
Good blue hens are scarce, but the first 
bird is an exception, and probably one of 
the best hens going. She is extra large 
for a hen, almost over the limit in this 
respect, but she is built on the correct 
lines, very good color and smooth type of 
head. She would maka a great mate for 
the first Cock." 

In the fall of 19^33, one of our custom- 
ers, with a Homer Cock bought of us, 
won first prize every time exhibited, also 
special prize for best Homer in the show, 
every time exhibited, at the pigeon and 
poultry shows at Taunton, Brockton and 
Hartford. 

THIS COMMISSION FIRM IN NEW 
YORK CITY WANTS ONE THOU- 
SAND DOZEN SQUABS DAILY, PAY- 
ING FROM .^4 TO $6 A DOZEN FOR 
SQUABS BRED FROM OUR BIRDS. 
The large commission houses handle 
squabs hy hundreds of dozens daily and 
firms which are known to furnish squabs 
of first-class size and weight, such as our 
birds breed, get more orders than they can 
fill. We received the following letter in 
January, 1904, from a well-known com- 
mission firm in New' York City (whose 
name and address we give to customers 
who buy breeding stock of us) : 

Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.: 
Gentlemen: I am receiving quite a few 
letters from time to time from the differ- 
ent customers of yours, that are starting 
in the squab trade. I wish if you see or 
write them, that you would advise them 
as I have done, to put themselves in a 
position to ship from 5 to 10 dozen squabs 
at a time, and if they intend to make a 
business of it, they might as well buy 
enough breeders in the start, so as to be 
able to ship a quantity at a time, as 
these little shipments of one or two dozen 
hardly pays one to handle, the expense 
eating up the commission. I have stated 



138 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



to them before, and you can also tell 
them, that the squab trade is in its in- 
fancy, and will certainly increase from 
time to time, and we are in a position 
to handle daily any part of 1,000 dozen 
squabs, as we have a big- outlet to place 
them promptly at top prices, with check 
to balance same day goods are received 
and sold. For the present, and until fur- 
ther notice, we quote you market as fol- 
lows: Squabs weighing ten pounds to the 
dozen, .$5.50 per dozen; nine pounds, $5.25 
per dozen; eight pounds, $5 per dozen; 
seven pounds, $4 per dozen; six and one- 
half pounds, $2.75 per dozen; dark, $2.10 
per dozen. Would like to have all the 
squabs you can get. In case you have 
any good customers that are starting in, 
I wish you would send me a coniplete list 
of that trade, so that I can write to them 
occasionally, and post them on the con- 
dition of the market. 

To our answer we received the follow- 
ing letter from the above firm: 

Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass. : 
Gentlemen: Yotir letter of the 1st duly 
received, and I am glad to hear from 
you so promptly. I have received quite a 
number of letters from small shippers 
who, judging by the way they write, must 
be beginners, and know but very little of 
the business. I have tried to make things 
as plain as possible to them, and encour- 
aged them all to start in and increase the 
size of their purchases from you to such 
an extent that it will pay them to ship. 
Of course we are obliged to take these 
small shipments, and encoui'age them 
along as much as possible, but very often 
after we have got a man started, he would 
have made a. pretty fair shipper, but 
someone gets hold of him in the mean- 
time and makes him believe that they 
can do better than we can, which is one 
reason that I object to helping these small 
shippers along. As above stated, as soon 
as they get started they begin switching 
around, and the man who starts them 
has very little for his trouble and pains 
of putting him in the way of making 
money. 



I wish if you have any shippers' ad- 
dresses in the West or in Wisconsin 
(which seems to be quite a squab coun- 
try) and also in either Illinois or Minne- 
sota, that you would send them to me. 
They seem to be doing pretty well in that 
section, and are satisfied with the fair 
prices they get from our market, on ac- 
count of the poor prices they get in Chi- 
cago, or elsewhere nearer home. 

Ac the present time, squabs are very 
scarce and very high. We are even re- 
turning more money than the last quota- 
tions I sent you, in order to gat enough 
birds to supply our trade. So if you can 
put rne in the way of increasing our squab 
supply, I would greatly appreciate it, and 
try in some way to reciprocate for same. 
Thank you for the information you have 
given me thus far in regard to shippers. 

Under date of January 30, 1904, we have 
the following letter from a commission 
Arm in St. Louis, showing that the de- 
mand in that section is becoming ex- 
traordinary: 

Plymouth Rock Squab Co., Boston, Mass.: 
Gentlemen: We are in the market for 
squabs and if you have any customers in 
this vicinity who are seeking a market 
for their squabs, we would be glad to be 
placed in correspondence with them. We 
will pay the highest market price for 
them, and feel confident that the service 
we will render your patrons will prove 
advantageous to you, to them and our- 
selves. Please let us hear from you. 

We do not give the addresses of these 
firms, and other good squab buyers, unti^ 
we have sold breeding stock to the cus- 
tomer. Commission men in all the cities 
are getting letters from curiosity seekers 
who are merely "looking up" squabs, and 
to such letters the commission men pay 
scant attention, for lack of time, and as 
there is no money in it for them. Any- 
one who doubts the genuineness of the 
letters we print should come or send a 
friend to our Boston office to see the 
originals. 




APPENDIX A. 

NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK. 
By Elmer C. Rice. 

CALIFORNIA MARKET.— The California you do not care to deal Witk commission 

marlcet for squabs is excellent, especially at men. 

the invalid resorts. In San Francisco it is BRANCHING OUT.— We have put some of 

not so good as at the Southern Coast places our best birds, in largest orders, for 300 to 

frequented by rich travelers. We print the 1,000 pairs, right into the heart of the squab 

following letter: country around Philadelphia, showing that our 

Poultrymen's Union of California, 413 Front ideas and our birds are all right. On Fe'b. 

street, San Francisco (Jan. 28, 1903): "Your 9. 1903, we received the following letter from 

Valued favor just received and in reply would Heacock & Hokanson, architects, of Phila- 

say that usually the quotations in the pape_rs delphia: 

'are close to being correct, but if you desire "Enclosed please find 25 cents for a plan of 

to call and see us at any time, we will give your style of squab house. Our client in- 

you exact quotations. There is always a forms us that you have prints showing the 

good market here for large, fat squabs. They details of house, nests, self-feeders, etc. We 

are readily selling today at $3 per dozen." have two clients who have been making some- 

SUMMER RESORT MARKETS.— The pleas- what of a success at this work and are now 

ure and vacation resorts all over the country ready to build houses with every essential 

are good squab markets. Maine squab breed- and practical feature necessary to make __a 

ers ship to Boston in the winter but in the success on a somewhat larger scale." 

summer they get better prices at Bar Harbor SQUABS IN UTAH.— The following letter 

and elsewhere along the coast. The White comes to us from James A. Hepburn, Utah, 

Mountain resorts in New Hampshire are a dated Jan. 24, 1903: 

fine summer market, also the resorts along "Enclosed find check for $1.70 for which 
the eastern coast of Massachusetts. Newport, please send me postage paid your leg band 
in Rhode Island, is a good summer squab outfit. I recently received your book on pig- 
market. Two or three of our customers .in eons and although I have been breeding 
the vicinity of Lenox, Mass., and in North Homers for flying for a long time, I learned 
Carolina, and Florida, are quite enthusiastic many things of interest to me from the booi. 
over the splendid market at their doors, j intend now to increase my flock and raise 
Wherever the good eaters go, winter or sum- squabs for the market also. I find I can sell 
mer, there is the demand for squabs. all I can supply here to the local markets/.' 

HOSPITAL TRADE.— A woman in the state SQUABS NOT GAME.— A correspondent 
of Washington wrote us that two big hos- writes us that she does not think she can 
pitals in a city near her had offered to take market squabs in her state because the game 
all the squabs she could supply. She moved laws arc so strict. In reply we wish to state 
out, bought a farm and in January, 1903, we that squabs are not game, but are a domes- 
shipped her four baskets. Under date of Feb. tic product same as chickens, and can be 
7 she replied: "Please pardon my delay in marketed in any state or territory at any 
acknowledging the receipt of the shipment of time of the year in any quantity without vijD- 
fifty pairs extra mated Homers I ordered from lating the game laws. 

you. I have been so busy with them that I CHICAGO MARKET.— The Chicago market 

have not really had time to write. Out of for squabs is fairly good, but nowhere near 

the whole lot there was only one dead orie, so good as the markets of New York, Phila- 

which surprised us." (As we had shipped two delphia and Boston, because the only squabs 

pairs more than the order called for, or 52 obtainable there in large quantities are the 

pairs altogether, the customer had no com- inferior squabs of common pigeons. We have 

plaint.) "The birds are perfect beauties and customers in Illinois who have written us 

we are greatly pleased with them. They seem that their fat Homer squabs from our birds 

to like their new home. Thanking you for are salable at prices from $1 to $2 in excess 

yo«r kindness and with best wishes." of the prices quoted by the Chicago com- 

The hospital trade in squabs is worth eater- mission men. The Chicago market is an 

ing to, for they are such a delicacy that eager one, and the dealers are imploring 

they are greatly esteemed by physicians, squab raisers to sell, saying they will tike 

There may be a suggestion in this for you if all offered. We advise our customers in the 

(Copyright, 1903, by Elmer C. Rice.) (1) 

139 



140 NATIONAL STANDARD SOUAB BOOK 



Middle West to sell their squabs to the trade times. We assure you, and you can rely on 

direct over the heads of the Chicago comnus us to obtain the highest possible price for 

sion men until the latter advance prices. We your stock at all times." 

print herewith some letters from Chicago Cougle Brothers, 178 South Water street, 

commission houses, showing that they want Chicago. 111. (Jan. 29, 1903): "Replying to 

them both with the feathers on and off, de- your favor of Jan. 27th will say that good 

pending on the dealer: fat squabs are worth from $2 to $2.50 per 

C. B. Hayden, Jr., & Co., 214 and 216 dozen. We can handle all of that kind 

South Water street, Chicago, Illinois (Jan. you can get. The best way to ship them is 

26, 1903): "Your favor of the 24th inst. at just to pinch their necks, cool thoroughly and 

hand and in reply will say, fat dressed pack in a box. Do not bleed them nor take 

squabs bring $2 to |2.2o per dozen. We haji- the feathers off. We hope you can ship us 

die them in any quantities." . some of this kind of squabs as we need 

Gallagher Bros., 191 South Water street, them." 
Chicago, 111. (Jan, 26, 1903): "We have your F. W. Melges & Co., lUu South Water 
favor of the 24th to hand and noted. In te- street, Chicago, 111. (Jan. 28, 1903): "Re- 
gard to handling squabs will say, we are in plying to your favor of the 27th in regard _to 
a position to handle any quantity to good squabs we beg to say that there is a wi'de 
advantage. We are now getting fancy squabs range of prices according to quality. If they 
from Wisconsin, which are selling at $2.50 are fine fat birds v,e can handle advanta- 
per dozen, about seven pounds to the dozen." geously all you can ship us. We shall do all 

C. H. Weaver & Co., 129 South Water in our power to obtain the very top price for 

street, Chicago, 111, (Jan. 29, 1903): "Your same at all times." 

favor of the 27th received. The market on A. Booth & Co., 63-65 Lake street, Chicago, 

squabs is |2.25 per dozen for the weights you 111. (Jan. 25, 1903): "If squabs are well 

speak of. M^e can handle all that you wTll dressed and weigh eight to nine pounds to 

be able to ship us, but would advise making the dozen, we can use them at $2.25 p_er 

a small shipment at first, so that we will get dozen F. O. B. Chicago." 

an idea of your stock and dressing." H. G. Lane, buyer for the Wellington Hotel, 

Theo. C. H. Wegeforth Co., 133 South Wa- Wabash avenue and Jackson boulevard, Chi- 

ter street, Chicago, 111. (Jan. 28, 1903): "In cago, 111. (Feb. 2, 1903): "In reply to yours 

reply to your favor requesting us to quote of Jan. 26th about squabs would say that we 

you prices on squabs will say that there is a are buying the large white squab you speak 

very good demand for them on this market at of. We have them shipped with the feath- 

present and when fine they will bring from ers on and market price for the best squ_ab 

$2 to $2.25 per dozen but in order to bring is $2.75 to $3.00 per dozen." 

these prices, the squabs must be fat and William H. Taylor Co., 156 and 158 South 

weigh on an everage about three-quarters of Water street, Chicago, 111. (Feb. 4, 1903): 

a pound each, and for such there is a ready "Your letter at hand in regard to squabs, 

sale. If you have any, or receiving, you can Would say we could use all your squabs you 

safely ship all you can get." can ship. We would just as soon have them 

H. R. Waszko, 213 South Water street, Chi- vith the feathers on as off. We can offer you 

cago. 111. (Jan. 29th, 1903): "In reply to $2.50 now for good stock. Should at any time 

your letter of Jan. 27th, we wish to say that market do better, we should certainly give it 

we can handle your squabs, in fact we can to you. Please let us know how soon you 

place any amount at the extreme top market can ship and how many each week. We have 

price, for we are heavy receivers of dressed the trade for them and can do as well as any 

squabs, especially from South Dakota and one for you." 

Wisconsin. Squabs should weigh not less Herman Weber Co., Inc., Union Hotel and 

than six or seven pounds per dozen. Should Restaurant, 111-117 Randolph street, Chicago, 

be dry-picked as the trade that can pay m. (peb. 3, 1903): "Your favor of the 1st 

fancy prices want them No. 1, and we quote to hand. I am buying squabs fresh in the 

them firm at $2.50 per dozen, but they must market all the time and am paying $3 per 

be fancy. We think we can get you still dozen for same. You can bring in two dozen 

higher prices but we can tell from your first of your squabs and if satisfactory will bur 

shipment to us just where we can place same of you right along." 

them and what we can do. See that they are The letter last quoted above, that from 

well cooled off before shipping. Trusting Herman Weber, is an indication of what 

that you will favor us with a good shipment the consumer in Chicago is paying for in- 

as soon as possible and also give us an idea ferior squabs. It rests with you whether you 

of how many you can ship us daily or -^^^in fee satisfied with breeding a product 

:weekly." which commands a price of $2 to $3 a dozen, 

Peter Britten & Sons, 2 and 4 Fulton street, or $3 to $6. If you put squabs weighing ten 

Chicago. 111. (Jan. 30, 1903): "There is no pnunds a dozen and over into the Chicago 

limit to the amount of squabs we can handle, market, you can get from $3 to $6 a dozen, 

as we have inquiries for the same at all NEW YORK MARKET.— In the first part of 



APPENDIX A 141 

January, 1903, we received the following let- weighing 100 pounds, transport it to New 

ter from the manager of the squab depart- York, and in that city deliver it by team to 

ment of a commission house in Washington the commission dealer for fl. In the case of 

market. New York city: a box of our squabs weighing twelve pounds 

"Your name and address as raisers of fancy to the dozen, about eight dozen and the box 
squabs was given me by Mr. Howes of De- would weigh 100 pounds. If we delivered 
troit, Michigan, who was over to your place them in New York at the price quoted, $4.50' 
a few days ago. As I have heard of your per dozen (or $36 gross), we would net, de- 
plant before and have tried to get your ad- ducting his Ave per cent, commission and the 
dress so as to write to you for squabs, I hope $1 express charges, $33.20. The commission 
this letter will mean some business for us man would resell the squabs to his trade for 
both. If you have any squabs to ship, I $5 to $8 per dozen. By a dozen squabs we 
would like to get your output, and can use all mean in this case and in all cases where 
you can ship at full market, and make you prices are quoted, twelve squabs. We do not 
prompt returns day received and sold. This mean one dozen pairs of squabs. We mean 
week I am returning the following- prices: six pairs of squabs. Squabs are always 
Squabs weighing ten pounds to dozen and quoted at so much per dozen, not so much 
up, $4..50 per dozen; eight pounds and up, ^ per dozen pairs. 

seven pounds and up, $3.50; six and one-half On January 8, 1903, the New York squab 

pounds and up, $2.60; dark, $1.80 per dozen, buyer above quoted offered the following 

If you will prepay charges, account of sales prices for squabs: For squabs weighing ten 

will be sent you same day goods are re- pounds to the dozen and up, $4.75; eight 

ceived, less five per cent, commission." pounds and up, $4.50; seven pounds and up. 

Letters like the above come to us from all $3.60; six and one-half pounds, $2.75; dark 

parts of the country, and squab breeders and No. 2 squabs, $2. 

whom we have supplied get similar communi- On January 25th, 1903, he offered the fol- 

cations. The poultry and game dealers in all lowing prices: Ten pounds and up, $5.50 per 

sections are after squabs all the time and dozen; eight pounds and up, $5.00 per dozeu; 

could sell a great many more than they are seven pounds and up, $4; six and one-half 

now able to get hold of. The above letter is pounds, $3; dark and No. ? squabs, $2.10. 

written notwithstanding the fact that in New On February 6, 1903, he offered us the 

Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania alone are same prices as last quoted, adding that he 

today four or five thousand squab breeders, would pay $3 to $3.75 per dozen for squabs of 

many of them with large flocks of over one average weight and grade. In this letter he 

thousand pairs of birds each. In the town of said: "As I have been getting quite a few 

Moorestown, New Jersey, to take only one letters from some of your squab customers of 

case, are from 200 to 300 squab breeders. As late, I want to thank you for same, and 

we say in our Manual, people in these sec- hope to get some of their birds and prove to 

tions keep hens for their own use, but not for their satisfaction by the prices large fine 

market, for they know that squabs pay better birds will sell at, that squab raising if prop- 

than hens. Poultrymen in other sections of erly carried on is a very profitable and pay- 

the United States are fast finding this out ing industry. The demand for squabs in on 

and are putting in squabs along with poultry, the increase and will be from now on, as 

or giving up poultry altogether. In spite of the game laws of all the states are such as 

the large output of squabs from the 4,000 to to prevent much small game from reaching 

5,000 breeders in New Jersey and Eastern the several markets, where there has been a 

Pennsylvania, which go into the Philadelphia big supply of such at low prices that squabs 

and New York and Boston markets (for the will now take their place, so that new be- 

squab raisers in New England supply only ginners have nothing to fear from a glut by 

about one-tenth of the Boston demand), there over production of good-sized squabs. Tt.is 

is all the time a scarcity of squabs, as the we have proven to our own satisfaction when 

above letter proves. This letter comes to us we introduced the large or royal squab to our 

because we have the reputation for dealing best hotel and cafe trade in this market, dur- 

in a fancy product. There are breeders ing the past season, and it now looks a^ 

of squabs who send to market an inferior though our demand will be greater this com- 

product from small and cheap Homers, and ing season. The buyers of these large 

such squabs are not the kind which commis- birds see they are worth the difference in 

sion dealers are anxious to get. Be sure you price, that they have a better call for them 

are able to breed a fancy squab by getting once they introduce them to the sonsumer. 

your breeding stock of us. Some beginners Encourage all your buyers to invest in birds 

are anxious as to express rates, not compr'e- that produce large, plump squabs. It will 

bending that they can ship squabs long dis- pay them best in the end and make a b^^ter 

tances at a trifling cost. The express rate demand for their grade of birds." 

from Boston to New York is $1 per 100 On Feb. 16th, 1903, he offered us the fonow- 

pounds. This means that an express team ing prices: Squabs weighing ten pounds to 

will call at our door, get a box of squabs the dozen and up, $6 per dozen; nine pounds, 




INTERIOR OF MATING HOUSE. 
This shows mating coops in use in one of our mating houses. This house is 
heated by hot water. 



142 



APPENDIX A 143 

$5.50 per dozen; eight pounds, $5 per dozen; for squabs is growing. I will take your 

seven pounds, $4 per dozen; six and' one-half squabs at market price day received." 

pounds, $3 per dozen; dark, $2.10 per dozen. C. T. Wiggins, East entrance City market. 

The above quotations are a good indication Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): "It is only 

of what the New York market for squabs is. a question of how many you can supply. I 

Oae of the practical ways we have of can handle all the squabs you will offer and 

helping our customers is to refer them to will pay you good prices for them. The 

such first-class buyers of squabs as the firm demand is strong and increasing. Hope you 

above quoted. We will give the address of will soon make a start with me." 

the above New York firm to you when you George O. Relf, steward. Midland Hotel, 

buy breeding stock of us. Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 27, 1903): "We can 

SCRANTON MARKET.— The following let- use squabs almost any time at $2.75 per 

ter is from Chandler and Short, commission dozen. If you have some now we will take 

merchants, 15 Lackawanna avenue, Scranton, one or two dozen and if O. K, will very 

Penn., dated Feb. 15, 1903: "We have yours likely use them right along." 

in regard to squabs. They are worth Ewins-Dean Hotel Co., proprietors Hotel 

from $2.75 to $3 per dozen, dressed, on our Metropole (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Hotel Balti- 

market. Whatever you ship, we will en- more (Kansas City, Mo.) (Jan. 30, 1903): 

deavor to get the very highest market prices "Kindly quote me prices on squabs by the 

for. All you have to do is to have the dozen. I have been using about two hun- 

feathers picked off." dred per month and expect to use more. If 

CLEVELAND MARKET.— The steward's your prices are right, you will hear from me 

department of the Union Club, 158 Euclid jn a few days." (Signed) B. G. Venable, 

avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, sends the follow- steward. 

ing letter under date of Feb. 13th, 1903: "I b. Klidey, the New Coates House, Kansas 

am in receipt of your letter of yesterday and city. Mo. (Jan. 29, 1903): "We are using a 

beg to say regarding your questions about few squabs which we buy from the commis- 

squabs, that they are worth to us from $3 to gjon men here at $2.50 per dozen. Let me 

$3.50 per dozen for the best and largest know what price you want for yours and we 

squabs either dressed or in the feather." may be able to use eight or ten dozen a 

W. H. Bennett, proprietor of Oyster Ocean week." 

Cafe, 368 Superior street, Cleveland, Ohio d. P. Ritchie, steward Hotel Baltimore, 

(Feb. 12, 1903): "I use about one and one- Kansas City, Mo. (Feb. 6, 1903): "Your favor 

half dozen squabs a week. Price averages $3 of Jan. 27 received. We pay $2.75 per dozen 

per dozen the year through." for fancy squabs delivered, with feathers 

W H. Seager, Sheriff street market, on." 
Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. 12, 1903): "I purchase OUR PIGEONS GOING AROUND CAPE 
squabs when offered in this market and have HORN.— We have sent our breeding stock 
sent to California for them on special occa- about everywhere, but one of the most curi- 
sions. The market price varies from $2.40 ous orders we ever had is from Captain Lane 
to $4 per dozen." of the ship Kennebec, which arrived in Bos- 
Gibson Pinkett Company, Fulton market, ton in November, 1902, from Seattle, with % 
21-25 Prospect street, Cleveland, Ohio (Feb. cargo of lumber. At this writing (Feb. 18, 
12, 1903): "We buy squabs and pay what 1903), Capt. Lane is making arrangements 
they are worth. Price runs from $2.50 to $4 with us to supply him with a breeding out- 
per dozen. We could use fifty dozen or more fit of our Homers, which he will instal on 
today." his ship so that on his long return voyage 

KANSAS CITY MARKET.— The market for to San Francisco (or Seattle) he will have 

squabs here is steadily improving. Here are fresh squab meat regularly. Capt. Lane is 

some letters bearing on the subject: part owner of his big ship and is accom- 

From James R. Peden & Co., 404 Walnut panied by his wife and young son. He bj.s 

street, Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903) : visited our place and knows about our birds 

"Send your squabs to me. I have good, and our methods. 

steady demand for them and will take all SQUABS IN NEW MEXICO.— Here in the 

you can offer. Top prices paid, or handled east we would not look upon New Mexico as 

in commission." (Mr. Peden ships squabs a fancy market for squabs, but here is a. 

..0 New York city and other points east.) letter from a customer in Albemarle, New 

W. M. Woods, produce company, stalls ^12 Mexico, which proves that he is getting in- 

and 13 west side, City Market, Kansas City, terested (Jan. 29, 1903): "The pigeons you 

Mo. (Jan. 26, 1903): "The market for squabs sent me on the 20th were received yesterday 

is good. Prices range from $1 to $1.50 for in excellent condition, and am well pleased 

common stock and from $1.80 to $2 and $2.25 with them. Please find enclosed a money 

for fancy. I am sure you will find a mark.et order for thirty dollars, for which send me 

for your squabs and if they come up to the twelve more pairs of your extra mated thor- 

mark you have set for them, will command oughbred adult pigeons. Ship as 'before by 

a much better price. Kansas City market Wells Fargo express." 



144 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

SOUTHERN MARKET.— Our breeding stock running constantly. Dimensions of pan, 4 
has gone to every state in thie South. If you feet 6 inches by 2 feet 10 inches, guarantee- 
live in any part of the South, you can market ing plenty of bathing facilities. They were 
squabs as readily as poultry is marketed. liberated after dark, but the early morning 
One of our Southern customers, who lives in will afford all the bathing facilities they will 
Citronelle, Alabama, has been to Boston to need, and we prophesy they will embrace the 
see us. Under date of January 30, 1903, he opportunities afforded at first opportunity, 
writes: "I have received Homers from two We wish to compliment you on your prompt 
others, but they do not compare with yours, methods of doing business, and on the su- 
I will build my second house very soon as periority of the birds shipped us. They were 
the first one is filling up fast." indeed high class birds, in fact, Mr. Rice, 

LONG DISTANCE SHIPMENTS.— To all they are better stock than we expected .to 

inquirers we wish to state again emphati- receive. Your sending us 4 extra pairs above 

cally that we certainly do guarantee the safe order was a graceful act on your part, one 

arrival of every bird, no matter in what part which we fully appreciate, and thank you 

of the world you live. We are learning all right here for it. Your shipment was nearly 

the time how to handle the long distance a week before we expected it, but by extra 

shipments best and experience has taught us exertion we got all ready in time and they 

little wrinkles about the baskets and the have a fine home. Express charges at $14 per 

arrangements of the feed and water dishes hundred Boston to San Rafael, 270 lbs. weight 

which are valuable. The express messengers of shipment, amounted to $37.80 plus 40 cents 

get their instructions not from guesswork or for feed, $38.20 total, at merchandise rate, 

from written notices or tags, but from a Still at rate given in your circular $4 for 24 

board a foot square on which is printed in birds (12 pairs), this is too much by a 

bold type the necessary directions. This margin. $4 rate to San Francisco per 12 

winter (1903) we have shipped every week to pairs is not just correct, still we are not 

California. One order of 200 pairs for Santa kicking, for the difference is not very much. 

Ana, California, filled seventeen baskets. Note this, 201 birds came out of those bas- 

Of the 400 birds, only one turned up dead, kets, now we are sure, absolutely sure of 

but as we had sent along four more pairs the count; two people kept count as each 

than the order called for, we were seven bird was liberated and 201 birds came out 

birds ahead on the count. Another large of the crates. If 100 pairs are mated, what 

shipment to San Rafael, California, in Janu- will we do for that poor lone bird? We 

ary, 1903, brought back by return mail the await for suggestions; pretty tough on that 

following letter, which we print exactly as lone bird, 3,500 miles from home, but he or 

we got it, word for word, and altogether it is she is here sure. In conclusion we thank 

one of the best recommendations for us to you for your promptness, your honesty and 

people who live at a distance that we ever your fair, square dealing and will keep you 

received : posted as to our progress as per your sug- 

"Yesterday, A. M. (Jan. 20th) at 8.30 we gestion. We thank you for the crates; they 

received your letter advising us of the ship- are fine. We wrote you yesterday and look 

ment of 100 pairs of Extra Mated Homers, on for reply in accordance with your usual 

Jan. 14th; advising also that the pigeons promptness." 

would reach us before the letter. Well, they We sent the above letter to Mr. R. H. 
did not arrive until 4.30 today, Jan. 21 (7) Dwight, agent for the Wells-Fargo Express 
seven days on the road. We notice that Company in Boston, and he was quite as 
seven days is also required to get your ship- pleased as we were. Through Mr. Dwight' s 
ments to Los Angeles; and when you assume co-operation our through western shipments 
that they will reach here at or before the by the Wells-Fargo have been a remarkable 
receipt of notice of shipment we think you success. The only difficulty we have ever 
are mistaken. Nevertheless, be this as it had on account of long distance trade came 
may, the birds reached us tonight at 5.30, when we were shipping in crates, not bas- 
every bird in first-class shape — every indi- kets. We sent a large order into San Fran- 
vidual one being in first-class shape; giving cisco and on the way four of the crates were 
evidence of being shipped in perfect condition broken into by rough handling and forty- 
and having plenty of feed and water en two birds got away. The Wells-Fargo Ex- 
route. Your feed ran short, as evidenced by press Company settled with us for the loss 
charges of 40 cents made by express com- of those birds and we made good to the 
pany for feed provided by them, which we customer, sending the missing birds on, and 
are only too glad to pay, and at same time the customer was out not a cent for further 
shows care and attention of express company express charges, for the Wells-Fargo people 
messengers — a good fault. Every bird in the carried the birds deadhead. 
lot is bright and active, and they come into The baskets in which we now ship cannot 
a first-class home, a fine house and flying be broken open except with the aid of an axe 
pen, plenty of feed and a galvanized iron and they can be thrown ten feet across a 
pan 6 Inches deep with water 4 inches deep depot platform without being injured. 



APPENDIX A 145 

There is a minor criticism in the above linow of his experience. His letters are at 

letter in the matter of express charges. Ac- our Boston office, where they may be seen. 

cording to the figures which we give in the We will not give his name by mail because 

circular headed "Express Rates," the cus- he is a customer, but if you think the above 

tomer should have been asked to pay about letters are made up by us, you write to the 

$33, instead of ?37, as he did pay. We be- Boston office of Dun's or Bradstreet's com- 

lieve the figures which we give to be correct mercial agencies and ask for one of their 

•i'n every case — the slight variation which men to be sent to our office to investigate, 

may come aa it came in this case is due to PIGEON MANURE.— Our advice in the 

the fact that no two persons will weigh up Manual as to pigeon manure has interest.?d 

the same lot of goods exactly the same, and pigeon breeders all over the country, nearly 

that, of course, the birds vary in weight, all of whom say that they never have taken 

The weight when the shipment starts is less pains to save it, and when it got too thick 

than when it finishes, because at the end they have scraped it up as best they coul'i 

the bottoms of the baskets are covered with and used it for fertilizer. They want to know 

manure. (The grain which we send for feed how we keep it pure, and all about the 

is not weighed in and charged for transpor- market, etc. 

tation.) If the waybill is lost or delayed. The pigeon breeder who does not make pro- 

and the agent at destination weighs the vision for the purity of the manure and 'the 

shipment, he will get a greater weight, and steady sale of it is just throwing bank bills 

consequently a higher rate, than the express straight into the fire. We have erected _ a 

employee who weighed the shipment here jn special building at our place for just the 

Boston. manure, and take every precaution to keep 

We wish to say further that if you think the manure free from straw, sawdust, sand, 

we have figured the express rates to you too etc. The building stands at the back of one 

low, send us money which we claim to be of the long houses, and about halfway in the 

correct and we will prepay all charges, thus whole plant, so that we can reach it easily 

putting on ourselves and not on you the dif- with a wheelbarrow from the houses. There 

ference, if there is any. is a slide cut in the north wall of what we 

COMMON PIGEONS AGAIN.— We have had call No. 2 squab house, and through this 

some of the old-time raisers of squabs from slide the manure is shovelled from the 

common pigeons on the ranches in the Mid- wheelbarrow (standing in the passageway) 

die West write us for more proofs that Hom- directly into the manure house, where it 

ers are ahead of common pigeons. stays until there is from $50 to $100 worth 

In reply we will print here the letter of it, when we bag it up and send it off. 

which we received in January, 1903, from, a First we take the wheelbarrow empty down 

customer as follows: a passageway and stop at a unit pen, then 

"I have for sale between four and five go into the unit pen with a bushel basket 

hundred pen fed common pigeons. Can you and scrapers. We use a trowel to clean off 

use them, and at what price? Should you the nest-pans, a tree-scraper to clean out 

not be in a position to use them yourself the nest-boxes and a hoe or a fioor chisel 

probably you could refer me to some one (same as is used to clean off snow and ice 

that is in the market for some fine pen fed from city sidewalks), six inches wide at the 

birds. The Homers Avhich I purchased of blade and with a long handle so that it can 

you some time last summer are doing very be used easily while the operator is standing, 

nicely, and have to make more room for them In scraping the floor, the manure rolls up 

is the reason of wanting to dispose of loy with little exertion off the blade of the 

common birds. Thanking you in advance for chisel. It is shovelled into the bushel 

favor asked." basket and the basket taken out into the 

We asked him to tell us if he had not passageway and dumped into the wheelbar- 

found our Homers more profitable than com- row. It takes one man not over thirty min- 

mon pigeons. He replied as follows: utes to clean a pen thoroughly and the 

"In reply to yours will say that your state- product of each pen is between two and three 
xnent of the Homers being more profitable iDushels, or from $1.20 to $1.80 for half 
than the common birds is true, as the fact an hour's work, which is pretty good pay. 
has been demonstrated to me in the past (We have been getting in the winter of 1903 
five or six months, by my experience of hav- sixty cents a bushel from the American Hide 
ing the two lots side by side in seoarate and Leather Company of Lowell, Mass.) We 
pens. My common birds referred to are fine ship the manure by freight in bags. We buy 
birds and will sell them F. O. B. at $2.50 per these bags when we can from farmers who 
dozen, which, taking the plumpness of the have large herds of cows and who use con- 
bird in consideration, is very reasonable." siderable grain, and they let the bags go for 

The above breeder lives in Missouri and one and two cents apiece. Second-hand bags 

we expect to sell a good many of our Hom- in the Boston junk shops cost from four to 

ers to him and to those in his state who nine cents apiece. The leather people let 




146 



APPENDIX A 



147 



the bags pile up and then send them back 
to us in a bunch. We are particular to save 
not only the manure in the unit pens, but 
in the sorting and mating cages and coops. 
We cover the floors of these cages with bur- 
lap, not tacking the burlap down, but 
stretching it over three finish nails tacked 
at the bacKS of the cages and two nails 
tacked at the front o| the cages. The 
manure cakes and dries on the burlap as it 
would on the floor. When there is a layer 
about half an inch thick, all tramped hard, 
dry and odorless by the constant hammering 
of the feet of the birds, we take the burlap 
off the nails and stretch it outside, bottom 
up, then sprinkle water on the back and 
the manure drops off in large cakes. The 
burlap then is dried and replaced. This 
method saves an immense amount of time 
which otherwise would be consumed in 
scraping the floors of the cages. We have 
108 of these cages at the farm and in our 
Boston shipping room, each capable of hold- 
ing from 12 to 20 pairs of birds, and we have 
burlap carpets on all of them. We use a 
large amount of burlap not only for this 
purpose but for small grain bags to go with 
orders for breeders to distant points, and 
also for the floors of our shipping baskets. 
We buy this burlap in large rolls weighing 
150 pounds and containing from 300 to 320 
square yards. We do not hem it or sew it in 
any way for the cages, simply cut it and in 
stretching it over the nails fold the raw 
edges under. 

Having read the Manual, you know that we 
do not use sand or sawdust in our squab 
houses, so we are able to deliver manure 
which is absolutely pure. The tanneries do 
not like to get lots of impure manure and 
of course pay more for the unadulterated 
article. It is just as easy and more business- 
like to keep this by-product pure. 

The manure in the houses has no odor, 
but when we have got it scraped up and 
banked in the manure house, it gives forth 
a pungent, ammonia-like smell. As the 
manure house is entirely cut off from the 
squab houses by the slide in the passage- 
way, this pungency does not trouble any- 
one. It is not a nasty smell, anyway. 

We have had customers from as far off 
as Illinois write that they were quite 
charmed with our story about the manure, 
and that they were saving up bags of it to 
ship by freight to the American Hide and 
Leather Company at Lowell, Mass. This 
tannery is a branch of the Leather Trust, 
which has other tanneries, so use your wits 
and find out which tannery is nearest you, 
and ship to that one. If you can find a 
tannery not in the trust, sell to that, if you 
wish to. If you sell to a trust tannery, the 
check which pays you will come from the 
New York office of the trust, same as ours 
do. We recommend our New England cus- 



tomers to ship to Lowell. We have always 
found the leather people square in measuring 
the manure, in fact they have given us credit 
on two or three occasions for more than we 
thought we had. They pay after you have 
sent your bill of lading and the report of 
the measurer has gone to the New York 
office. You need not be afraid of swamping 
the leather trust with pigeon manure. They 
will take all you can scrape up. They use it 
to take the hair off the raw hides, and it is 
said to be the only substance which will do 
this job thoroughly without injuring the 
hide. Chemicals which are used as substi- 
tutes when pigeon manure cannot be had are 
said to be injurious to the hide. 

We write the above to help you sell the 
manure from your squab houses. Do not 
ask us to advise you further on this point, 
for we cannot. If you cannot find a tannery 
within shipping distance, try the florists. 
We are informed that the florists' exchange 
in New York city is a good place to sell 
pigeon manure, and customers near that 
city have told us that they are selling there. 

SQUABS IN THE POULTRY PRESS.— The 
magazines devoted to poultry are beginning 
to take up squabs on account of the in- 
creasing interest shown by poultrymen in 
the subject. In the Poultry Keeper for Nov. 
15th, 1902, appeared a contribution by A. P. 
Spiller. After giving the general arrange- 
ments for caring for the birds, he says: "At 
about four weeks of age the squabs are 
ready for market. Some markets require 
them dressed, others only killed. Good 
breeding pigeons will hatch and rear from 
six to eleven pair of young a year. The cost 
to keep a pair of breeders, including the rais- 
ing of the young, at the present time is 
about eighty cents a year, this, of course, 
varying some with location and cost of 
feeding stuff. Wild game birds are becom- 
ing more scarce each year. The properly 
raised squab pigeon comes nearer taking the 
place of these wild birds than anything else. 
That they make fine eating, those who have 
eaten them can not deny. There is always 
a ready sale for good plump squabs at 
hotels, restaurants, markets and private fam- 
ilies, prices ranging from $2.50 to $4.50 per 
dozen, depending upon quality and season. 
When one begins to raise pigeons it is better 
to try to secure strains from some reliable 
breeder who has stock bred along profitable 
lines. There is a difference in regard to 
breeding and feeding qualities and results 
obtained which warrants the paying of a lit- 
tle more at the start in obtaining more 
profitable stock. The writer is in favor of 
the straight Homer, carefully selected as to 
size, shape, breeding and feeding qualities, 
as it is well known that the Homer pigeon 
is one of the best feeders and breeders of 
any variety, and the numbers they will pro- 
duce in a year more than balance any slight 



148 NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 

advantage that may be obtained in size, them to us. In the winter of 1902 we received 
The breeding of pigeons is fascinating to a clipping from the New York Evening Sun 
most people. It is true there are some of Feb. 28, 1902, in which white squabs were 
losses, but with care and some experience quoted at $5 a dozen and dark squabs at 
in management the few losses that occur to $3.50 a dozen. We are told that the New 
the beginner may be reduced to a very small York Evening Sun prints every Friday even- 
percentage. The work is light and not as ing a household market column giving quo- 
exacting as in some other lines, affording a tations on squabs. 

lucrative employment almost from the start The Rural New Yorker, an old-established 
to those who are not strong, as well as to and progressive farmers' weekly, printed the 
the most robust. A flock once mated will following quotations for squabs as whole- 
give but little concern to their owner, as sale prices ruling Feb. 6, 1903: "Squabs 
they remain constant for life regardless of prime large white, per dozen, $3.75; mixed, 
the numbers contained in the flock, and for $2.75 and $3; dark, $2 and $2.50." 
years will amply repay in profit and pleas- The Albany (New York) Express, on Feb. 
ure for the feed and care given them." 9, 1903, printed the following quotations: 

We wish to call the special attention of "Squabs, native, $5; Philadelphia squabs, ^5 

our readers to that portion of the above per dozen; pigeons, $1.50 per dozen." 

article by Mr. Spiller where he says that the The Chicago Tribune, on March 10, 1902, 

cost of a pair of breeders is eighty cents a printed the following quotations: "Squabs, 

year. We say the cost is sixty cents a year, prime, large, white, per dozen, $3." 

In his article, Mr. Spiller says nothing The St. Louis Republic, on Dec. 2, 1902, 

about keeping the pigeon manure free from printed the following quotations: "Squabs, 

dirt and selling it to tanneries. This must white, choice, dozen, $2.75 and $3; mixed, 

be done in order to hold the feed bill down $2.25 and $2.50; prime dark, $1.87 and $2." 

to its lowest notch. We say that the The San Francisco Chronicle, on April 3, 

manure will pay one-third of the grain bill, 1902, printed the following quotations: 

and taking Mr. Spiller's figure of eighty "Pigeons, young, $2.50 and $2.75; ditto, old, 

cents, and deducting qne-third from it, we $1.50 and $1.75." 

have as the net cost fifty-three cents. SQUABS IN THE STATE OF WASHING- 

We asked one of our friends living in TON. — The squab raisers In New Jersey, New 
West Newton, Mass., to ask Mr. Spiller if York and Pennsylvania are very well satis- 
his estimate of cost was made when he was fled with the New York and Philadelphia 
saving the manure and selling it to tanner- markets for squabs, and we have done cop- 
ies. Mr. Spiller replied by letter as follows siderable talking about the New York mar- 
under date of Feb. 16th, 1903: "No, the ket ourselves, but let us tell you that t"te 
manure was not taken into consideration at market for squabs on the Pacific Coast is a 
all. I do not know what the tanneries pay fine one, too. Here in the East we think 
for it." Seattle is a long way from home and you 

The owners of large flocks of common pig- may find some city chaps around us who 

eons in the West who are breeding squabs think that city is but just on the edge of 

for market do not sell the manure and for the tall timber. If you live out in Michigan, 

this reason they lose an important source of Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, 

revenue. It is remarkable to us th.at or any state in that section, you ought to 

pigeons pay with them at all. Certainly the feel pretty sure that the markets for squabs 

manure is a very important by-product, and around you are good, after you have read 

you should figure on selling it just as you what we are going to tell you here about the 

figure on selling the squabs. market for squabs in Seattle and its vicinity. 

NEWSPAPER MARKET QUOTATIONS.— These letters were obtained for us by a 

Only a few of the daily newspapers of the customer who lives near Seattle: 

country are in the habit of printing regularly Fulton Market, corner Second avenue and 

market quotations on squabs. The Boston Columbia street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11, 

Globe has an article about once a week for 1903): "Yours at hand and will say that if 

the information of the household and in this your birds are as you say, we can use on an 

article squabs are regularly quoted. ^t average of twenty dozen per week at $2.50 

Thanksgiving time, 1902, the Globe quoted per dozen, feathers on." 

squabs at from $4 to $5 per dozen. In the A. D. Blowers & Co., 817-819 Western ave- 

Globe of Feb. 14th, 1903, squabs were quoted nue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): "Your 

at $4.50 and $5 per dozen. If our New Eng- V9,lued favor to hand regarding squabs. In 

land customers will buy a copy of the Friday reply will say that most of the squabs used 

or Saturday Globe each week, they will prob- in this city are brought from the east and 

ably find this household article containing held in cold storage, so that native birds 

the quotations for squabs on one of those will no doubt sell much better than thia 

days. article. We have made some inquiry about 

Our customers sometimes cut from the them and find that it will be no trouble in 

newspapers quotations for squabs and send selling four to six dozen a week, and no 



APPENDIX A 149 

doubt many more, as the trade would open Williams Bros., Gilt Edge Cafe, Everett, 

up. We do not think there is anyone in Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): "In reply to yours 

this part of the country who raises them will say, I cannot say at present how many 

for sale, and think if you can produce a squabs I can use, but will start with two 

good article that you will have no trouble dozen a week, picked, at $2.50 per dozen, 

whatever in selling them here. The price for Ship as soon as you please and will look the 

eastern squabs is $2.25 to $2.50 per dozen, market up for you in the meantime." 

Some of the customers prefer to have them Gordon & Co., commission merchants, 811 

plucked, others alive. We think it would be Western avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 

better, perhaps, in the first shipment to 1903): "Replying to your letter will say that 

send them alive until a regular trade was we have telephoned to several of the hotels 

established. Our commission for sellipg and restaurants here that would be apt to 

them will be ten per cent, of the gross sales, use squabs and we find that there are some 

If you have any nice ones, it would be well places that make a specialty of using them 

for you to send two to four dozen along and and we do not believe we would have any 

see what we can do with them for you." trouble in disposing of them nicely. We 

(It is better to ship squabs killed and prop- would suggest that you send down a small 

erly cooled. Do not send them alive to your box of them and let us show the customers 

market. Few butchers in the commission just what they are and find out just what 

men's employ understand how to kill and cool they will be willing to pay for them. They 

a squab right. Do your own killing and cool- have been selling recently for 25 cents each. 

Ing and packing as we have given you pre- If you care to make this shipment, we will 

else directions and you will know (not guess) be glad to get it." 

that your product is reaching the consumer Seattle Market, Cor. First avenue south and 

in perfect condition.) Washington street, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 10, 

Palace Market Co., Second avenue, Seattle, 1903): "In reply to yours would say, it 

Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903): "Squabs such as you would be a good idea for you to ship us in 

speak of would be worth 20 to 25 cents each, two or three dozen squabs for sample, I could 

Would prefer the feathers on. We can use get the hotel and restaurant people's opinion 

all you have." on price and quality and be able to talk to 

California Commission Company, 923 West- you on quantity. Eastern frozen squabs are 

ern avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 11, 1903): selling on this market for $2 to $2.25 per 

"Your favor to hand and contents noted, dozen. If your stock is as you say, I think 

In reply we beg to state that squabs are it would be a better seller than frozen 

selling from $2.50 to $3.50 per dozen, accord- goods." 

ing to the quality of the birds. We want Maison Barberis, restaurant and dining par- 

them with the feathers on and not drawn, lors, 204-210 James street, Seattle, Wash. 

You may ship us two or three dozen for a (Feb. 11, 1903): "We will take thirty dozen 

trial and then we will be better able to tell squabs every month; have them plucked, and 

what we can do for you and see how many will pay you $3 per dozen. Please answer 

we can handle at a time. Our commission and say about what day of the month you 

is ten per cent, on all goods. We are cer- w-ill send them in." 

tain that we can give you entire satisfaction E. C. Klyce & Co., commission merchants, 

and know that our business methods will 306 Western avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 

please you. We make prompt returns and 1903): "Yours regarding squabs to hand. We 

keep shippers well posted on the market con- have investigated the market here and find 

ditions. Trusting to be favored with your a good many of the first-class hotels and cafes 

further valued orders." will take them at very fair figures. There 

C. W. Chamberlain & Co., 905-907 Western seems to be a variance of opinion as to what 

avenue, Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): they will pay, but we presume that the sup- 

"Yours of the 9th at hand and contents fully ply has been very limited, arid they would 

noted. Squabs, such as you mentioned, pay just about whatever the seller would ask 

would sell here for about $3 per dozen. Our in order to get them. We think the averr ge 

selling charge is ten per cent. Twelve to price would be about $2.50 to $2.75 per dozen, 

fifteen dozen per week could be disposed of Of course there would be some bidding 

from present information at hand. They among the different buyers in case they were 

should be shipped alive." scarce, and we might get more for them. 

J. P. Gayton, steward Ranier Club (this We have immediate access by 'phone and 

club is composed of the richest men of Se- salesmen with all our customers who serve 

attle), Seattle, Wash. (Feb. 13, 1903): "I am squabs for short orders or otherwise. By 

in receipt of your letter with regard to this means you would be in close touch with 

squabs. Yes, I want some squabs at any the people most in need of them and would 

time. Will be glad to have them. I will always try to get you top notch prices. We 

take a dozen at 25 cents each, either dressed believe this is a good investment for you to 

or undressed, three dollars per dozen. After grow them for this market. Of course you 

I see the first birds I can tell whether I can would have to start in and graduate up to 

take them regularly." find how large the volume of trade will be 




VIEW FROM PASSAGEWAY. 




VIEW FROM INTERIOR OF SQUAB HOUSE. 
Above are two views of a model made to illustrate what we call the dowel 
system of feeding and watering. It is a great time-saver in a long house. Between 
the floor of squab house and the lowest tier of nest boxes is one foot space. Fill 
this space with three-eighths inch doweling set one and one-half inches apart, as 
pictured. (This doweling comes in any length from a carpenter and is very cheap.) 
Set galvanized drinker and feed trough as shown. The trough has a three-quarter 
inch slot in its bottom so that the grains will fall into position ready for eating on 
tlie back side of the bottom strip into which the dowels are driven. The birds 
stick their heads through the dowels to eat and drink, and cannot foul either grain 
or water. Push a wheelbarrow with grain along the passageway and a house one 
hundred feet long can be attended to in fifteen minutes. Without this arrangement, 
if you go into each unit pen to feed and water, you will use up at least an hour, and 
it will be harder work. By this method you need enter the breeding pens only when 
killing or cleaning times come. 



150 



APPENDIX A 151 

that we can command you on them. Any- at that, you to pay the express I should be 

thing in the way of game, fowls or meats glad to have same." 

are staple sellers at good prices." Duquesne Club, Pittsburg, Penn (Feb 1] 

Hamm & Schmitz, Hotel Butler, Seattle, 1903j : "Wish to know, if you have squabs 
Wash. (Feb. 12, 1903): "In reply to yours, of first quality, should you have about three 
will say that we could use three dozen a dozen on hand, I would pay you per dozen 
week of the squabs and will pay three dollars squabs plucked and delivered, from $3.50 to 
per dozen for plucked birds, laid down $3.75 per dozen. If price suits you please 
here." let me know." Signed by E. Max Hein- 

The above letters indicate to us that peo- rich, superintendent. 
pie in the state of Washington who eat Lincoln Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska. (Feb 
squabs have to pay from $3 to $4 a dozen 16, 1903): "Replying to your letter. We can 
for the cold storage, frozen kind. Poor as use about two dozen squabs per week in our 
these are (they are the lightweight squabs cafe at present. Will pay $2.50 per dozen 
of common pigeons) they are in active de- delivered here, feathers on." 
mand. Of course the consumers would pay as Hoted Victoria, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 18 
much, and no doubt more, for fresh-killed 1903): "In regard to your letter, will 'say' 
squabs bred from our fine Homers. The com- we use about one dozen or one and one-half 
mission men are certainly eager to get dozen per week, just depends on the business, 
squabs. They are willing to pay from $2 and will pay $3.50 per dozen delivered here 
to $3.50 per dozen. They resell them at a at the hotel." 

profit. Fred Harvey, general office. Union Depot 

The above letter from E. C. Klyce & Co. Annex, Kansas City, Missouri, Chicago office 
is sensible and could well be written by any Cor. 17th street and Wentworth avenue, 
commission firm in any state in the Union, (Feb. 14, 1903) : We can use 15 to 20 dozeii 
or by any commission firm anywhere that squabs per week if the birds are very nice 
sells poultry, eggs and butter. Wherever and the price reasonable. Can use them with 
there is a sale for hens and chickens, dressed feathers on. Do not know what we can af- 
or with feathers on, there is a sale for squabs ford to pay, it depends entirely on the birds. 
at higher prices not only because they are If you will please send three dozen squabs 
a greater delicacy, but also because good by Santa Fe baggage car to Kansas City, 
eaters everywhere know they are a greater charging them at such a price that you can 
delicacy, and expect to pay, and do pay, more afford to furnish them, I will use them as a 
for squabs, pound for pound, than they pay sample. If the birds are not of the right 
for hens and chickens, geese and turkeys. quality and the price is too high, we will not 

We ship to Seattle by the fastest express need any more, but if the birds and price are 
trains. The birds go from Boston to St. right, we can use quantity given above. I 
Paul (Minnesota) by the Wells-Fargo Express enclose baggage car shipping bill; be careful 
Company. At St. Paul the birds are taken to fill it out correctly. This bill is made in 
by the Northern Pacific Express Company, duplicate: you hold one copy as your receipt 
which has charge of them to destination, and the other goes with the birds. Please 
Every express messenger in the employ of put the squabs in a small box with a little 
these two companies on this long route has ice." 

handled our shipments and made a fine Hotel Savoy, Ewins-Childs Hotel Co., pro- 
record, and is trained to the work of feeding prietors, Kansas City Missouri. (Feb. 16, 
and watering all sizes of shipments. Our 1903): "What is your lowest price on best 
Seattle trade can be sure that their ship- squabs in five dozen lots? We are not in the 
ments will be treated right and will reach habit of sending out of town for our sup- 
them in perfect condition. That is what we plies, but if you have something better than 
guarantee. we can get here, it is possible that we can 

MORE LETTERS.— Here are more letters do business with you." (Signed by George 
from squab buyers, unclassified, as they came Thompson, steward). 

to us in the first part of February, 1903: Frank E. Miller, superintendent Dining 

Allyn House, Hartford, Conn. (February, Service, Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway 
1903): "In answer to yours will say we system, No. 707 Chestnut street, St. Louis, 
are continually using squabs. We buy them Missouri. (Feb. 16, 1903): "I have your 
plucked in all cases. We pay all prices, ac- favor relative to squabs. It is proper for you 
cording to size, age, and condition when re- to state the price per dozen. We occupy eight 
ceived. They run from $2.25 to $3.25 per or ten large dining stations and requi^" a 
dozen. Sometimes the market is a little large number." 

higher." Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio. (Feb. 19, 

Russell House, Detroit, Michigan. (Feb- 1903): "Tn reply to your letter making m- 
ruarv, 1902): "In reply to your letter would quiry regarding squabs I will state that we 
say that we use quite a few squabs here. Am are paying $3.00 per dozen for nice dressed 
paying at present $2.50 per dozen for squabs. We do not buy any unless they are 
splendid stock. If you care to send me any fully dressed, no feathers on.'* 



152 



NATIONAL STANDARD SQUAB BOOK 



Louis A. Fisher, Manager Century Club, 
Cleveland, Ohio. (Feb. 17, 1903): "We buy 
all our squabs in New York as the prices of 
three and four dollars per dozen prevailing 
in this city are too high— that is, we buy 
cheaper in New York than here." 

A. S. Barnett, steward Morton House, 
Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Feb. 11, 1903): 
"In reply to your inquiry in regard to 
what we would pay for squabs such as you 
have, we are paying $2.25 per dozen. Should 
you consider our price an object, would be 
pleased to learn how many you could fur- 
nish a week." 

Hotel Schenlen, Pittsburg, Penn. (Feb. 10, 
1903): "Your squabs must be according to 
the weight and you should find a ready mar- 
ket for such stock. Nice white squabs are 
bringing $3.50 today." 

Hotel Rider, Cambridge Springs, Penn. 
(Feb. 11, 1903): "We can pay you $2.25 per 
dozen for genuine squabs (no pigeons) de- 
livered here. Can use six or eight dozen 
at a time, but we do not want anything but 
young birds." 

E. A. Goodrich & Co., commission mer- 
chants, 103 South Water street, Chicago, 
Illinois. (Feb. 13, 1903): "Your favor at 
hand. If you mean fat young pigeons that 
have left the nest and can fly, they are 
worth 75 cents to $1 per dozen, and the trade 
wants them alive. (This -is the way the 
trade in Boston wants them, but they pay 
more). If you mean nestlings, or very young 
pigeons which have not left the nest and are 
unable to fly, we can get you $2 to $2.25 per 
dozen, dressed neatly. Either kind is good 
sale at prices named and can handle for you 



any quantity from five dozen to o-ne hundred 
dozen. If nestling tie in one-half dozen 
bunches packed in ice and ship by express." 

A FINAL WORD.— Our object in printing 
the letters from marketmen and other squab 
buyers, in this appendix, is to convince any 
intelligent man or woman that there is a 
market for him, provided he goes to raising 
squabs, no matter where he lives. We have 
hundreds of similar letters on hand, but we 
have not room to print all, and we think we 
have printed enough. If you are not con- 
vinced by what we have printed that there 
is a paying market for squabs within five 
hundred miles of you, do not write to us and 
ask us to tell you the names and addresses 
of squab buyers in your town or city, or 
your count}', for that we may not be able to 
do, but sit down at your writing desk, or go 
out in person, and find out for yourself. 

It is unnecessary to argue the squab mar- 
ket within anyone of common sense who 
lives east of the Mississippi and Missouri 
rivers, and on the Pacific coast, and within 
shipping distance of Denver. If you live in 
a barren territory or a foreign country, and 
wish to take up this subject with us, we 
will reply to the best of our ability, but 
remember that you are on the ground, and 
can find out such facts for yourself better 
than we can tell you. 

This Manual is intfinded to be a book of 
facts, backed up by evidence. If anybody has 
any additional facts as to squabs which will 
improve this Manual, we will be glad to con- 
sider same, and will pay for them if ac- 
cepted. 




APPENDIX B 

(Copyright, 1906, by Elmer C. Rice) 

In 1907, we expect our trade to be even greater. In 1906, we sold more 
birds ard supplies than in any previous year. That our trade is larger than 
that of all others combined is not an idle boast, but is very much of a fact, due 
to this, namely, that we sell Homers which are larger, more prolific, and which 
breed larger squabs, than any others. This supremacy we intend to maintain. 

We offer additional proof in the following pages. For every letter which 
we print here, we have a dozen just as good, or better. The following letters, 
only a part of many received in nine months of 1906, are not from customers 
merely pleased by the fine appearance of the birds on arrival, but are accoimts 
of breeding which has won success. 

There are some very strong letters here. All are worth reading for the 
practical information and news they give of the squab industry up to date. 
We do not print the names and addresses of these customers. Many are 
regular buyers of our birds. We guarantee the genuineness of the letters, 
and will prove it in any way desired. The originals are at our Boston oflfice 
and may be seen there. 

We ask your trade for 1907 by deserving it. If anybody tries to make a 
sale to you by " running down " competitors, insist that he or them demon- 
strate the worth of claims by furnishing proof in volume and character, con- 
cerning birds, matings and management, equal to the letters we print here 
and in our other publications. 



OUR LARGEST 1906 ORDER. In looking birds had a long trip to reach him. We 

back over our year of business, 1906, we recall expect to sell him more yet, judging from his 

first an order from a customer whom we last letter. We will be pleased to show the 

started in 1905, with 120 pairs Extra, for correspondence at our Boston office. The 

which he paid $300. We sent him 125 pairs, point we wish to make is, that we are the only 

five pairs free. A year later we received the firm anywhere actually filling orders this 

following telegram from him: size, or able to fill them, and that we earned 

" Wire bottom prices for one thousand pairs the confidence of this customer by giving him 

Extra, including two thousand nappies and his first lot of birds so good that he kept on 

date you ship." trading with us. More 1906 experiences 

We quoted him our regular price for Extras, follow, 
the same to all, namely $1.70 per -nair in large 

lots of 300 pairs and over. Our customer was STARTED WITH SIX PAIRS EXTRA AND 

a man of few words and knew what he IN TWO YEARS RAISED SIX HUNDRED 

wanted. Three days after sending us the AND THIRTY-SIX SQUABS. Nearly two 

above telegram he sent us the following years ago (in October, 1904), I purchased of 

letter: " Enclosed find draft for $2111.25 as your firm six pairs of your best Extra Homer 

payment in fuU for 1150 pairs Extra and pigeons, from which I have been breeding 

supplies. I trust you will exert every care in since, and it may be of interest to vou to have 

interest of shipment. You will please hold some particulars as to results. I should pre- 

the birds until May 10, as it will crowd me to mise by saying that I was, at the time, a nov- 

get my quarters ready before that time." ice pure and simple — as a matter of fact a 

We shipped 1200 pairs, giving the customer lawyer by profession — and knew absolutely 

50 pairs free. He lives in the West and the nothing of the care or culture of pigeons^ 

153 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906 



However, study of your squab book, close and 
constant observation of the birds, their habits, 
etc., with the resultant experience, enable me 
to get along pretty well. 

My pigeon house was not originally in- 
tended or constructed for that particular pur- 
pose, but had, hitherto, been used for a hen 
house. It is about 40 feet by 12 feet, with 
five windows. Along the whole of the west 
front and extending across the south end I 
built a fly 10 feet wide, 12 feet high and about 
70 feet long. My flock has hatched, up to thi 
time of writing this, six hundred and thirty - 
six squabs (636), without those consumed at 
my own table, but I contemplate marketing 
the squabs this fall as the overcrowding stage 
is rapidly approaching. 

If you can flnd time I shall be glad to hear 
whether or no, in your expert opinion and in 
the above circumstances, you think that I 
have been fairly successful. Although I feel 
reasonably satisfied with my progress, were I 
to start again, ab initio, I think that I should 
do so with a complete flock of fully matured 
birds rather than waste the time consumed 
raising stock, by breeding, to a business 
basis. Wishing you continued success. — W. 
C, Massachusetts. 

DOING GREAT WORK. The Homers 
which you sold me two years ago are doing 
great work. I am perfectly satisfied with 
them.— F. S., New York. 

TOOK FRIEND'S ADVICE. Enclosed find 
an order for birds and supplies with remit- 
tance. A friend here was much pleased with 
our birds from your lofts and decided to go 
into the business. We prevailed on him to 
order from you because we felt your birds were 
the best. He could have bought here in 
Illinois at a much cheaper rate but he took 
our advice. So we trust you will do well by 
him and trust you will send us another order 
blank like the one enclosed. — Mrs. K., Illinois. 

MULTIPLIED SIX-FOLD. About two 
years ago next Jime, I bought of you 60 pairs 
of your Extra selected Homers and they were 
a very fine lot of birds, and I have raised a 
very fine lo t of birds from them . I have about 
400 birds now, and they are straight bai 
wing and mottle -^.vith che exception of about 
eight chocolate. — A. C ., New Jersey. 

GETTING THREE DOLLARS A DOZEN. 

Please send me your new literature on squabs. 
I bought 18 pairs of you in 1903 and now have 
a flock of 190 birds and am getting $3.00 for 
my squabs in St. Louis. If any one in this 
section writes to you for squabs you may refer 
them to me. — F. L., Missouri. 



NEIGHBOR PLEASED. Your favor of the 
21st to hand, also price list of $1.70 for Extra 
Homers in 300-pair lots. Mr. J. A. Westen- 
dorf, of this city, piurchased of you on a trial 
order five pairs of Extra. Why cannot vou 
make me the $1.70 rate for 50, 100 or 200-pair 
lots ? In going over my buildings I find that 
I cannot accommodate 300 pairs so would not 
like to order that ntimber for fear of being too 
crowded. 

Mr. Westendorf is pleased with his birds 
and if the birds you should send would be the 
equal of those I would be more than satisfied. 
— A. 8., Missouri. 

ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY. Please send 
me the feeding slip that you have published 
as your daily feeding ration. The birds we 
got from you are entireh^ satisfactory. — J. D., 
Pennsylvania. 

RECOMMENDED BY ANOTHER. Will 
you kindly let me know how I can expect to 
receive birds ordered from you to be sent to 
the above address? I have been recom- 
mended to try your birds by Mr. R. Warner, 
of 9 DuBois Avenue, and if you can guarantee 
safe shipment I will place an order with you 
as soon as I hear to this effect. And if they 
are as you represent them, I shall be a regular 
customer of yours. If you will give me the 
desired information, you will greatly oblige. — 
G. 8., New York. 

THIS SHOWS WHAT A CUSTOMER DID 
WITH TWELVE PAIRS OF OUR BIRDS. 

My Extra Plymouth Rock Homers have done 
finely. I sent to Boston $30 for 12 pairs. 
The birds arrived before I expected them and 
they all looked fine. I got miy first egg March 
21, 1905. I raised all of my young to increase 
the flock for one year and fotmd at the end of 
the year that I had 271 young birds, all seam- 
less banded, and as flne a lot as I ever have 
seen. This year I am selling squabs and 
mated pairs, raising my best young, and have 
already sold squabs and mated pairs which 
have to date netted me $60. I have sold my 
squabs for $3 a dozen, and mated pairs for 
$2.50 a pair. 

I now (September 10, 1906), have 400 birds 
that I have raised. A good lot of them are 
worthy to be put in the show pen, and if they 
were they would be among the winners. 

When I went into the pigeon business I 
bought what I thought was the best stock to 
be obtained, namely, Extra Plymouth Rock 
Homers, and my flock shows that I did not go 
wrong, for every one that has seen my birds 
pronounces them the best lot they have ever 
seen together. 

My birds now are in the midst of moult, 
but most of them are breeding right along. 



These are strong letters. Read them over. You want some assurance, when you buy 
pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were. 

154 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



I now have 95 mated pairs at work and as soon 
as the moult is over I snail begin mating again. 
By November I expect to have 50 pairs more 
mated and at work. 

I feed tne best of grain, using cracked com, 
kalfir corn, red wheat, buckwheat, a little 
hemp, and during the moult sunflower in the 
head, letting the birds pick off the seed as they 
like. 

I use the self feeder Mr. Rice describes in his 
Manual and I find with it the feed is always 
clean. I never feed on floor. I use automatic 
water fountains and scald them out every two 
or three days. I give the birds a good clean 
bath every day. 

I have trays to feed any dainty which I 
have, removing trays when seeds are eaten. 

One thing that is essential with pigeons is 
cleanliness. I clean loft every Saturday, 
cleaning out nests that have young, putting 
in new straw, and spraying over lofts with 
liquid disinfectant. 

I have followed the instructions of Mr. 
Rice's Manual and found it to be good solid 
advice. 

In the past 18 months I have been in a good 
many pigeon lofts and have seen exhibits at 
New York State Fair and Rochester, N. Y., 
Pigeon Shows, and never have seen any better 
birds thai I have raised from the Extra 
Plymouth Rock Homers. 

I am perfectly satisfied with what my birds 
have done and when I buy more they will 
surely be Extra Plymouth Rocks. 

The feed bill wiU not exceed eighty-five 
cents a year per breeding pair. I use tobacco 
stems for nesting material and like them. 
I shall always try and speak a good word for 
the Plymouth Rock Squab Company, for I 
have found them always ready to assist at any 
time.— W. R. R., New York. 

THEY HAVE NOT LOST A BIRD. I wrote 
to you some time ago in regard to the squabs 
we got from you in the month of M^ay, or 
rather pigeons, 50 pairs, and have yet to lose 
our first bird, which not only speaks well for 
your birds but it looks as if we are giving them 
the right attention. 

There is one thing we wrote to you about, 
those not working — but they are doing fine 
and, counting your birds, we have 100 pairs, 
besides we have sold some which were 
greatly admired. 

The hotel we take them to in Washington 
gives seventy-five cents a pair all the year 
round dressed, the comraission merchants 
never higher than 60 cents a pair. — M. B., 
Maryland. 

MANUAL INDISPENSABLE TO SUCCESS. 

In regard to the National Squab Book which 
you publish, would ask if you ever revise it. 



The one I purchased of you in May, 1904, is 
all right and I could never have raised the 
number and quality of squabs I do without its 
giudance. Of course you are learning new 
points about your business and if you have a 
later edition than mine please let me know. 

The Homers have started in on their annual 
spring campaign and from all appearances 
they are going to outdo their former produc- 
tions. With best wishes for vour continued 
success. — A. T., Ohio. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HIM BY 
OTHER CUSTOMERS. Some time ago I 
wrote your company for their free book on 
squab raising. Later I sent for your National 
Standard Squab Book. I have read each one 
from start to finish and am well pleased with 
them. I have made up my mind to give the 
squab business a trial as I am quite sure that 
there is money in it, if properly conducted. 

I realize that to make a success of any 
business one must thoroughly understand it. 
As I have had no experience in this line I wish 
to start in with a small number and increase 
them as I grow to understand the business. 

My plan is to buy 12 pairs of the very best 
breeders that I can obtain and keep only the 
best of their increase for breeders till I get my 
flock to the desired size. Now, from reading 
your books and having you highly recom- 
merided to me by other parties, I have m ade up 
my mind that you can give me what I want in 
this line. — H. B., Illinois. 

FROM FOUR PAIRS TO THIRTY PAIRS 
IN NINE MONTHS. Nine months ago I 
bought of yoti four pairs of Extra Homers. 
I had to move them twice to make room. I 
have now 60 first-class Homers. I have had 
several chances to sell some of the squabs 
but I think too much of them. By studying 
your manual carefully I have not lost a bird. 
From a friend of your Homers. ^W. M., New 
York. 

NO DISEASE. You no doubt have my 
name on your books as a purchaser of 10 pairs 
Extra, which I purchased of you last winter. 
I am still enthusiastic over the industry. I 
have all the original 11 pairs you sent me and 
33 young, all the offspring of your birds, 55 
birds in all. They are every one in finest 
condition, disease has never touched my flock. 
— ^J. P., Virginia. 

FIVE MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA. When 
I received those birds from you in March I 
turned them into a pen and have been so taken 
up with other work that they have been left 
to themselves until now. At present I am 
taking all the working birds out and banding, 
and when they have young squabs I have 



Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock 
Squab Co. Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims. 

155 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



moved them also, putting them in a corres- 
ponding section in the other pen, the arrange- 
ment of the pens being the same. I find that 
the old birds find their young and go right on 
keeping house just the same as before they 
were moved. At present I have 100 young 
birds, the oldest being less than five months 
and already at work. The squabs are fully- 
developed and out of the nest at three weeks. 
I expect to have about 80 or 90 pair of birds 
at work about the first of November. Then 
I shall begin to ship. — E. R. C, California. 

GETTING ALONG IN VIRGINLA.. Please 
ship by freight to us six drinking fountains 
and six bath pans. We got some birds of you 
last year. They have done very well. 
Thank you for the advice — P. N., Virginia. 

GENEROUS TREATMENT OF CUSTOM- 
ERS. Your letter of May 21 was most satis- 
factory and certainly very generous. I hope I 
made it very plain to you that you were not at 
all to blame for the loss of one of my pigeons. 
Your offer to replace it free of charge was 
quite in keeping with my impression as to 
yotir ver^r generous treatinent of your cus- 
tomers. I have at last found that the lost 
pigeon was a female and if you think a white 
pigeon would be well received by my colony 
of three checkered, I would like to have a 
white female Extra Homer pigeon. My 
pigeons are in fine order and doing well. — 
Mrs. H. C, Georgia. 

LOST ONLY ONE SQUAB IN FIVE 
MONTHS. Five months since, come the 12th, 
I received of you, by express, 13 pairs of your 
Plymouth Rock Homers. Up to date I have 
lost but one squab (and I think he was killed 
by a dislocation of the neck), possibly 10 eggs, 
several by frost. I have 54 squabs, most of 
them able to take care of themselves, and 
seven pairs of eggs. Three pairs of young 
ones have hatched and begun to build their 
nests. Now I wish to ask you if you think 
they are doing well. I do, and I am proud of 
my intelligent birds. I am now preparing 
to remove all young ones from the pen except 
those that are mated and then as fast as the 
others mate, to do as you say, put them into 
the breeding pen. I shall also btdld on 
another unit to my breeding pen in a short 
time, as I figure on 110 birds in my present 
house. 

I wish I was financially able to put in a good 
plant as these birds have demonstrated their 
fecundity. I notice you say that there is 
little liability of nest-makers mating. I have 
not discovered any with the few I have. I 
have just gone through the nest boxes with 
whitewash containing a good per cent of 



carbolic acid and vitriol solution. I clean 
out houses often and so far have not had a 
sick bird. Occasionally I put ginger in the 
" drinking fount and I firmly believe it is by 
following yoiu- plain and definite instruction 
that they keep as well. 

I hope I am not trespassing on your valu- 
able time but cannot resist telling you how I 
am getting on with your stock. — W. G. P., 
Wisconsin. 

CONVINCED AFTER TRLAL. I have de- ! 
layed in writing you as I wanted to see how j 
the birds were going to tium out. Can say 
now, I am more than pleased with the birds. j 
I have now 18 squabs and five pairs of eggs. j 
Three squabs died and six eggs went to waste. ! 
That is all over with now. Don't expect that ' 
to happen again. As far as I can see squab ' 
raising looks to be ver^^ simple and profitable. 
I have a nice clean house and rtinning water 
so the time spent is nothing. Enclosed you 
will find my check for 12 pair Extra more. — 
J. S., Washington. 

GETTING FOUR DOLLARS A DOZEN 

FOR SQUABS. Please send me as speedily 
as possible 25 pairs of Extra Blue Homer | 
Pigeons. I have now about 125 pairs of birds i 
bred from the original 20 pairs I bought from | 
you about 18 months ago and am selling j 
squabs at $4.00 a dozen. I am building a ' 
coop 48 feet by 14 feet which will accom- i 
modate about 600 birds and if successful will 
enlarge my plant shortly. ] 

Will you Idndly supply me with the name 
of the large Commission house in New York | 
mentioned in your circular? The original ; 
birds were bought from you in November 
1904 and shipped to my partner in the busi- 
ness. — H. B., New Jersey. ; 

QUICK TIME. I have read a large num- | 
ber of your testimonials, none like this how- 
ever. Now I will make an affida^'it that I 
received the 38 pairs Saturday morning, put 
them in the pen by ten a.m. I gave them a 
few tobacco stems from a crock on the floor 
in the comer. At^ five p.m. a hen laid an ■ 
egg. She laid her second egg to-day, Monday, 
and is now setting. Can any of your cus- 
tomers beat this? — -S. H., Illinois. 

THINKS WE ARE TRUE BLUE. I am 

giving my pigeons occasionally lettuce or 
some raw cabbage, which they most heartily j 
enjoy. Is this conduct prudent? The last I 
batch of birds you sent me "Extra selected" 
were magnificent. You people (The Ply- 
mouth Rock Squab Company) seem to be 
"true blue." I like to deal with your kind; 
don't find them all the time. Please answer 



Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising? Some play at pigeons 
as they would with a new toy, then they give them up. If they bought of us., the trouble is 
with them and not with the pigeons. 

156 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



the above and return to me. Yours well 
satisfied with your treatment. — -O. J., Illinois. 

SUCCESS IN TEXAS. In October 1905 
I purchased from you 25 pairs of birds and 
since that time I have had fair success in 
raising squabs. I have about 175 young 
birds on hand at present. They are all 
strong and healthy, having had the best of 
care, and a great many of them are mating 
now.— W. B., Texas. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER. I 

received the birds all O.K. The last ones 
were every one all right, as were the first. 
A thousand thanks for your kind, courteous, 
and prompt treatment in all our business 
dealings and you will be sure to hear from us 
again. If our letter will help you any, you 
are perfectly welcome to use it. Thank you 
again. — J. C. H., Michigan. 

SELLING MANURE. Some time ago I 
bought 24 pairs Homer Pigeons from you. 
I have had fairly good luck with them, having 
increased my flock to about 200 pairs. I 
want to write you in regard the manure. 
You state in your National Standard Squab 
Book, that the Leather Trust used it for 
tanning purposes. Now I have considerable 
on hand and I wrote them. They said in 
reply, that they did not use it at all, which 
was a surprise to me as I have been careful 
in saving it. — W. H. H., Pennsylvania. 

Answer. The trust does use pigeon manure 
or did, the last we knew. We shipped to one 
of the Lowell plants of the American Hide 
and Leather Co. for three years. Perhaps 
yoiir letter was directed to one of the plants 
of the trust which does not use pigeon manure. 
We have printed so long the fact that pigeon 
maniu-e is salable to tanneries of the trust 
that the New York office of the trust has been 
bombarded with pigeon manure letters for 
the last five years to such an extent that they 
are sick of the topic there and give an in- 
quirer poor satisfaction. For some time we 
have been selling our pigeon manure to 
leather men whose factories are within ten 
miles of our Melrose plant. Their teams call 
for it and take it away with very little trouble 
to us. We get sixty cents a bushel for it, 
same as usual. If any customer of ours 
wishes to ship manure to New Jersey or New 
York, we will help him to find a buyer there, 
as we have letters from tanneries in both 
States on file asking us to sell them "pigeon 
pure." 

HIS FLOCK GROWING. About a year 
ago I bought some birds from you, some 
$2.00 per pair and some $2.50. My flock is 



growing and seems to be getting along pretty 
good, having now 180 birds — will soon have 
200 birds. I thought I would try and sell 
some now. They are all good birds. I want 
to tr>- and sell what I raise now and if possible 
make a business of the squabs if there is 
enough in it to warrant putting up more 
buildings and getting more stock. 

It costs me about $1.90 per week for feed 
for this amount. Am I feeding enough? — 
M. N., Massachusetts. 

BUILT NEW HOUSE. I have built a 
new house for my pigeons. Have increased 
my flock from the original six pairs to 50, 
besides selling 30 pairs of sqviabs. Could I 
have done any better than that ? 

Have been having some trouble by a few 
going light and have followed your advice 
and think have got the better of the difficulty. 
I lay the trouble to the poor quality of wheat 
they have been furnishing me. It seems to 
be all shriink up and they don't eat half of it. 
— A. D. v., Pennsylvania. 

Answer. More pigeon troubles are caused 
by wheat, or too much of it, than almost any- 
thing else. Squabs which are thin and dark 
are caused by too much wheat in the ration. 
Pigeons fed on too much wheat get thin, with 
sharp breastbones, and will not lay as they 
ought to. _ A good ration of Canada peas and 
hempseed is necessary to bring eggs and keep 
the_ flock in condition. A pigeon will not 
thrive if not kept in condition by nourishing 
food. The results of too much wheat are 
loose droppings, stupid and non-productive 
birds. Pigeons should be active and eager. 

IN FINE CONDITION. My birds I bought 
a little over a year ago (12 pairs) are still 
doing fine; have sold several sma.ll lots of 
squabs. I have been following your manual's 
instructions as close as possible. I have about 
sixty pairs. They are in flne condition and 
have lots of eggs and youngsters. — C. W. H., 
North Carolina. 

SQUABS WEIGHING NEARLY A POUND 
APIECE WHEN ONLY THREE WEEKS 
OLD. Please send me your price list on birds 
and supplies as I intend to ge't about ten 
more pairs of Extra Homers and want to get 
them of you. The birds I have now, which 
I got from you, are doing fine and I have 
doubled my flock. I could sell all the squabs 
I have but want them for breeders. 

Would you kindly advise me if oats are 
good for breeding pigeons if fed moderately. 
Also do you think it wise to sell my squabs 
when they are from two and one half to three 
weeks old, as some of them will weigh about 
fourteen ounces at that age. — A. P., Ohio. 



Look up the standing and character of the concern with which you contemplate dealing. 
Your bank will find out the facts for you. Avoid advertisers whom you find out by investiga- 
tion are worthless. Have their ratings looked up for you. 

157 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



Answer. Pigeons do not care much for 
oats. Pigeons in the street eat them, as thej^ 
eat peanuts or bread. Of course if you have 
oats handy and cheap, you can feed some, 
but pigeons will eat almost every other grain 
in preference. When squabs weigh 14 ounces 
they can be killed, no matter what their age. 

MOVE THEM AS YOU PROPOSE. I have 
pigeon breeders in unit numbers one and 
three. Squabs in luiit number two, from 
one to three months old. I wish to put num- 
ber three with number one. Number three 
is breeding right along. Will it hurt to move 
nest, pigeons and squabs out of number three 
into unit number one? Will it damage eggs 
and squabs to do so? If rot I can move 
them through unit number two, as I can let 
number two in flying pen while I am moving 
number three. 

I shall want more pigeons by fall. I got 
13 pairs from you last year, and I have 100 
pairs in all now, so you see I have done well 
with them. I wish you would answer as soon 
as possible as I do not wish to molest them 
before I hear from you. — J. P. M., Michigan. 

Answer. Move them as you propose, 
putting the nests in the same relative posi- 
tions in the new nest-boxes. You will lose 
few, if any. 

INCREASED STOCK. In May, 1903, you 

sent C. I. Bruce forty (40) pairs of your 
pigeons at $2.50 a pair, and in 1904, twelve 
(12) females. We have sold and increased 
stock since then by breeding, until, at present, 
we have about three hundred (300) birds. — 
Miss H. J., Connecticut. 

BEST HOMERS HE EVER SAW. You 

favor of the 12th June, answering my inquir - 
of the 9th June, was duly received. Thank 
for the information. I had fully intended tj 
visit your plant, but, just as I am ready to 
start, my wife, who was to accompany me on 
a two weeks visit to the New England coast 
is taken sick. I have seen the birds which 
you sent to my neighbor, Mr. P. C. Evans, 
and they appear to be all you claim for them, 
tie best specimens of Homers I have yet had 
Ihe pleasure of seeing. 

If you can let me have a small lot of one- 
half dozen pairs, at same price as paid by Mr. 
Evans, you may enter my order for same, 
with dozen bowls, for early delivery. — G. W. 
G., Pennsylvania. 

FLOCK WENT TO WORK QUICKLY. 

Out of the seven pairs of Extra Homers you 
shipped me June 2, 1906, I have already 
(August 10) got twelve squabs. I am very 
much pleased over having such good success, 



but I have no way of marking them. You 
will please send me an outfit for marking 
them by mail. Send about what you think 
a beginner ought to have. As the business 
grows, will send you a larger order. — L. L., 
Nebraska. 

A WOMAN'S WORK. I have 90 pigeons 
on hand, bred from the 26 my husband bought 
of you a year ago last April. — Mrs. H. C, 
Illinois. 

STRICTLY ALL RIGHT. A friend of mine 
of this city recommended you to me as being 
strictly all right. I will thank you to send 
me yotu- literature explaining the cost of 
starting a squab farm of about 250 pairs, 
raising and marketing same, as I contemplate 
going in that business. Thank you in ad- 
vance for any information that you may give 
me. — W. M. A., Alabama. 

RESULTS TELL THE STORY. As all of 

my birds secured from you in May this year 
have their second pairs of young ones and I 
think will continue to multiply as fast, will 
you kindly forward me a list of commission 
men as stated in yotir letter of recent date. 
Am perfectly satisfied with the results ob- 
tained from your birds. If you have any 
inquiries for birds in this localit^^ I will be glad 
to attend to them for you. — J. L. T., Indiana. 

SIZE OF SQUABS A REVELATION. We 

are pleased to advise you that we ate our first 
squab from the lot of birds you shipped in 
May last Sunday and wish to state that the 
size of these squabs is a revelation to us, being 
almost twice as large as any we have ever been 
able to secure. 

The enclosed list will give you an idea as to 
their productiveness. I also would like to 
have you answer the qtiestions contained 
therein. — H. B. R. Illinois. 

OUR BIRDS BETTER THAN WE CLAIM. 

My birds reached me in good order and was 
glad to see them when I got home from work 
safe and sound. I think the American 
Express Co. is about the best there is. Every- 
body that sees your birds say they are the finest 
they ever saw._ I think when anybody is look- 
ing for good birds thej' don't need to look any 
further than yovir place and I know they will 
go ahead of any birds in this town for looks 
and flying. I think we will stay here till we 
get a good flock of birds then we will move 
outside of to^\'n. The next time I send for 
birds I will try and send you a bigger order. 

Your birds are better than you claim for 
them. Some of them have eggs before their 
young ones are two weeks old. They get so 



We were the first. Our birds and methods revolutionized the squab industry and are 
widely imitated. But imitators who copy or find fault with oixr printed matter cannot give 
you our birds. We have no agents. 

loS 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



big they just about can't sit in the nest. I 
think if you would put an advertisement in 
some of the evening papers you would get 
some more trade. I am advertising your 
birds to everybody I know. — ^J. S., Wisconsin. 

COMPLIMENTED BY AN EXPERIENCED 
JUDGE. One of my hens made her nest and 
I thought she was ready to lay but she sat all 
one day and part of the next and did not, but 
had her mouth open panting and seemed very 
sick. I telephoned to Mr. M. to come and tell 
me what to do. When he came he held her 
in warm water for 15 minutes and then fast- 
ened her in her nest. In ten minutes she laid 
her egg and got all right. 

Mr. M. holds the world's record for three 
hundred miles and has some of the most val- 
uable birds in Chicago, and he said my birds 
were very fine, in fact he said he could have 
hardly told them from his own, they resembled 
them so much. 

When so good a judge will compliment 
them so highly I feel very proud of them. — 
A. B., Illinois. 

SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND AT 
TWO WEEKS. I thought you might hke to 
hear from the birds you sent us a year ago. 
They have been working overtime since. We 
have 54 birds now with several nesting. Every 
one is a solid color the same as the old ones. 

The squabs we have weighed have averaged 
a pound at three weeks old. One weighed a 
pound at two weeks. 

Thei-e is a party here getting birds of all 
kinds and colors and claims they are better 
than what we got for Extras on account of the 
bands. — J. W., South Dakota. 

Answer. It is quite common for parties 
selling poor Homers to put bands on their legs, 
some of them quite ornamental, in an endeav- 
or to enhance their value, same as putting 
a gaudy label on cheap goods. It is the pig- 
eons that count, not the bands. Bands are 
useful to number the birds, that is all. 

NO. 1 PLYMOUTH ROCKS ARE GOOD 
HOMERS. It will probably be fall before I 
get my house built and give you an order for 
more birds. If money is not too scarce the 
order will be for your best birds, for the No. 
1 Plym.outh Rocks are doing even better than 
the Manual claims them to. Your Extra 
birds must be wonderful. — W. H. W., Massa- 
chusetts. 

WE " SHOW THEM " OUT IN MISSOURI. 

I received the grits and oyster shell all O. K. 
My birds jump on to the grits and hemp seed 
in a hurry. They are doing well. I will have 
about sixty squabs this month and quite a 



number mating this week. I had an order 
for 100 squabs this morning. It made me 
sick to think I could not fill it, but my time 
came after a while. I will build another house 
soon and I want 100 more of your birds. Mr. 
Hall's birds look well. They came through 
nice. He is well pleased and I think -he will 
order more. There are two more people talk- 
ing of going into the squab business. I will 
try to get an order for you. — J. W. H., Mis- 
souri. 

HAS NEVER SOLD ANY SQUABS LESS 
THAN NINE POUNDS TO THE DOZEN. 

About three years ago I purchased of you six 
pair of Homer pigeons for which I paid $2.50 
per pair. My flock are all from the stock I 
bought of you and I have some nice birds. I 
have never sold any squabs under nine pounds 
to the dozen at four weeks old. I never sell 
m.y birds after they have left the nest for 
squabs. Will you send me your price list for 
grains, that is, Kaffir com and red wheat. 
I would like the address of Boston dealers. — 
C. E. W., Rhode Island. 

LETTING BIRDS FLY. I would Kke to 
have your opinion and advice on a matter that 
is very important to me. I have a beautiful 
start with your birds, have followed your book 
exactly and the result has been very gratifying. 
Now what I want to do is to buy about three 
hundred more old birds from you and pen 
them. Will the young birds be as prolific, 
mate and hatch as well if properly fed, watered 
etc., exactly as my pens are, if I allow them to 
run loose on my farm ? There is no danger of 
them being shot and I would much prefer 
allowing them the run of the farm. I have 
the buildings that I could convert into com- 
fortable houses at once, and I will appreciate 
your thoughtful opinion and advice in the 
matter for I know you are headquarters. — 
T. W., Tennessee. 

Answer. Birds which you raise you can 
let fly because they know no home but yours, 
but Homers which you buy you cannot let fly 
safely because they know another home (their 
old home) and their instinct and desire to go 
home may lead them to leave you. 

NEW JERSEY NEIGHBORS ALL AGREED. 

The six pairs of birds received from you the 
first day of May are still doing fine (July). 
One pair has her third pair of young at this 
writing — less than three months. The rest 
will hatch this week. Mr. Tevis (the neighbor 
I spoke to you about in a former le ; ;3r) came 
over after me to see the birds that he had 
just received from you. They are fine birds 
and he is very much pleased with them and 
sorry that he did not take my advice and send 



The squab industry is growing every year. More squabs were bred in 1906 than ever 
before. Prices were better and they are going to be as good or better in 1907. The habit of 
squab eating is growing in every section. 

159 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



to you in the first place, but he bought about 
60 pairs _ from a New Jersey dealer. He 
showed him a letter that was supposed to have 
come from a man that bought birds of you, 
saying that he didn't want any more of them. 
But now he sees the difference when he has 
them side by side. Mr. Webster, my next 
door neighbor, is so well pleased with the 
way mine are doing that he is going to send 
for a few pairs this fall. I would if I could, 
and had the room. 

I now have 16 pairs of the Plymouth Rock 
birds. My pen is open to any one that wants 
to see the birds before they send to you for 
breeders. I thank you for the fine birds you 
sent to Mr. Tevis. It shows that I didn't 
exaggerate your ability, to send six pairs or 
100 pairs of fine birds. — D. C. T., New Jersey. 

FINEST FLOCK HE HAD EVER SEEN. 

A year ago to-day we received eighteen pairs 
of your Homers. Our flock now numbers 
nearly 100 pairs and all are dicing fine. We 
have sold a few pairs at $1.25 per pair, and 
have had any amount of inquiries after squabs. 
We have had a number of fanciers up to look 
at the flock, and all seem to think the;;^ are 
an exceptionally fine lot of birds. One 
gentleman who keeps an excellent lot of 
imported birds said they were the finest flock 
he had ever seen, which speaks weU for your 
birds. — B. B., Michigan. 

BEST BIRDS IN HIS CITY. Find en- 
closed $16.34 for which to send me a dozen 
of your Homers, a dozen of nest bowls, and 
two feet of aluminum tubing. Would have 
liked to send an order sooner but had no 
place to keep them. My birds are doing 
fine. We have moved into a larger place 
where I can let my birds out in a wire cage. 
Your birds are the best I ever saw and the 
only ones I ever intend to keep. I have sold 
off all my young stock so I have more room 
for the others. — ^J. B. T., Wisconsin. 

SPLENDID WORK WITH SPLENDID 
BIRDS. I wish to advise you now (August, 
1906) of the splendid luck I have had with 
the six pairs of birds purchased from you last 
May and which were received at my home 
on May 17. 

These birds,, within a week after arrival, 
commenced to construct their nests and, out 
of the six pairs, five began hatching within 
two weeks and ever\' egg produced a squab. 
Two squabs weighed at the age of four weeks 
and two days, 16 ounces, after plucking, and 
the remainder weighed from eight to 12 



ounces. The two squabs, weighing 16 ounces, 
were the largest I ever saw and I t nought you 
would be interested in knowing the weights. 

On account of not having room for any 
more birds, I am killing the squabs as they 
mature but would have liked to have mated 
the two large squabs, as I believe that their 
offspring would have averaged 16 ounces 
each. — S. P. N., New Jersey. 

DOUBLED IN THREE MONTHS. En- 
closed find money order for $1.70 for which 
please send leg band outfit. The birds I 
bought of you in April are doing fine. They 
have doubled themselves. ^W. A., Missotui. 

DOING WELL IN CANADA. Saw your 
advertisement in R. P. Journal, "Squab book 
free." Anything new in it? I have yovtr 
book of 1904 with two dozen your Homers. 
They are doing fine. What would you sell 
me one dozen more'^ — P. I. B., Quebec. 

ORDERS FOR A FRIEND. I enclose you 
herewith a check for $30. Please ship to 
enclosed address 12 pairs of your Extra 
Plymouth Rock Homers. Be sure to send 
him some nice ones. 

Those we bought of you some time back 
are doing nicely and if these show up as well 
I think that I will be able to send you some 
more orders soon. — S. W. T., Georgia. 

HAS DEALT WITH THE FAKIRS. The 

pigeons that yo\i shipped to us have arrived 
in fine condition and the best of health. We 
are shipping back to you, via American 
Express the wicker basket in which you sent 
our pigeons. Also our m.any thanks for the 
trouble you took in selecting the different 
colored pairs. 

I wish to say that the pigeons are beauti- 
fully mated, because one pair have started 
in business already, the hen having laid two 
eggs, and all the others have showed promis- 
ing signs of mating. 

After having dealt with poultr\' fakirs and 
receiving their treatment, I fully appreciate 
your kind treatment which is so tmlike that 
of these fakirs, but yoxir endeavors are not in 
vain, as I soon expect to order some more 
pairs. Your treatment has encouraged me. 
I have provided an excellent house and pen 
for them. Thank you for your interest shown 
in this matter. — L. J. H., Illinois. 

IN THE BLUE GRASS STATE. Could 
you kindly tell me where I could get some 
white Homers? The Plymouth Rock Homers 



New laws passed a year ago by the legislatures of Massachusetts and New York forbid the 
sale of quail except in the months of November and December. The penalty is a heavy fine 
for every quail found in the hands of any marketman or restaurant keeper. Quail are no 
longer found on bills of fare in these two states except around Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
Squabs are on the bills of fare all the year everywhere. Other states, it is said by sportsmen, 
will follow Massachusetts and New York with a similar game law. 

160 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



I got from you are doing fine. — R. L. J., 
Kentucky. 

HIS SECOND ORDER. Enclosed please 
find express money order for five dollars for 
which please send me three pairs of your No. 1 
Plymouth Rocks at your earliest convenience. 
A previous order which I received from you 
has been doing fine. — J. E. D., Pennsylvania. 

PROLIFIC BIRDS. I purchased 12 pairs 
Homers of you about 18 months ago and they 
have done fine work for me. I have 50 pairs 
mated birds, saved the best ones and sold the 
second class. — J. A. D., Pennsylvania. 

SENT SISTER GOOD BIRDS. I enclose a 
money order for $17.88 for which please send 
three dozen nappies and six pairs blue 
checkers. You sent my sister such fine birds 
that I would like the order duplicated. — H. 
S. B., New York. 

RECOMMENDS OUR BIRDS TO EVERY- 
BODY. The birds arrived in good order and 
I am pleased with them. I have 14 fine birds 
from the first ones I bought of you and I think 
the last four pairs Avill go to work soon. I 
recommend your birds to everybody. — J. M. 
M., Philadelphia. 

HE KNOWS OUR TEACHINGS ARE 
RIGHT. I have read your Manual carefully, 
' studied every point as I went, because I 
wanted to impress it on my mind. I have 
f«und in my own experience that pigeons do 
just as your Manual says. Your book is 
worth two or three dollars instead of 50 cents. 

I want to thank you for the favor you did 
at finding the weight and charges of some 
things for me. Would you kindly tell me 
what would be the cost of freight charges on 
one hundred, two hundred and three hundred 
pounds of grain" — G. A. S., Georgia. 

FIVE DOLLARS A PAIR WOULD NOT 
BUY HIS. Birds came Friday at noon, and 
accept many thanks for the fine birds you sent 
to me. My friend says $5.00 per pair would 
not buy his. — J. P. B., Georgia. 

PLEASANT BUSINESS FOR A WOMAN. 

You will possibly remember that a year ago 
last April I bought from you twenty-five pairs 
of your Extra Homers. 

1 now have some eighty pairs in my house 
and have used something like two hundred 
squabs. My birds have done well and I have 
lost only one of my original stock, 

I am thoroughly convinced that there is 
iTLoney raising squabs and it is a very pleasant 
business for a woman, requiring only a little 



time each day to attend to them and one soon 
becomes very much attached to them — Mrs. 
M. L., Kentucky. 

GENEROUS TREATMENT. The pigeon 
that I wrote you about a few days ago has 
died. I think it must have been injured in 
shipping. It was a female. I think your 
promise to send another a very generous one, 
and I would appreciate it very much. In 
about two or three months I expect to order 
more birds of you. The others are doing 
excellently. — A. H. B., Massachusetts. 

TRADE BEGETS TRADE. I have been 
instrumental in making some sales of pigeons 
for you. At least I have recommended you to 
several people who said they would buy of you. 
Did_ a doctor of Fairhope buy a lot 
of pigeons of you? He came over here to see 
me about what I thought of the business and I 
recommended you to him strongly. I just 
sold 30 pair of my pigeons to Dr. O. F. Caw- 
thon and E. J. Buck and I recommended them 
to buy 10 or 12 pairs of 3'ou. I will continue 
to advertise you all I can. Later on I want 
to rearrange my house and build up a big 
place and I will send to you for what I need. 
— M. O., Alabama. 

GOOD INCREASE IN SIX MONTHS. 

Yesterday I wrote you for the Manual or 
National Standard Squab Book, but I forgot 
to tell you of some of your birds I have seen. 
Last August or September a doctor friend of 
mine in Brunswick bought of you six pairs of 
Homers. In two or three weeks they began 
to lav and hatch. He sold four or five -oairs 
at $1.00 to $2.00 a pair. He has now between 
seventy and eighty total. They are beauties 
and if mine are as pretty and do as well I don't 
think I will be disappointed. Please send 
Manual as quick as possible. — G. S., Georgia. 

GOOD RECORD FOR FIRST MONTH. I 

deem it will be gratifying if you know how the 
13 pair of Homers I received from you on May 
3d are doing. 

There has not been a sick one in the lot and 
they are very much admired by all who see 
them, and are pronounced first-class Extra 
stock. 

They are contented and very busy all the 
time. Eight pairs are breeding now, with 
three nests each having a pair of nice healthy 
squabs. I think this a splendid record for the 
first month in a new home. — 8. H. W., Penn- 
sylvania. 

LOST HIS TEXT BOOK. Please find en- 
closed 50 cents, and send me another Nat- 
ional Standard Squab Book. I have mis- 



Remember, these are stories told in 1906, by customers who are really raising squabs 
with our birds and not merely talking about what they are going to do. They are getting 
satisfactory results day after day. 

161 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



placed m3^ other one and can't find it._ My 
birds are doing well, i have had 15 pairs of 
yotmg birds since I had them. I sold one pair 
of old white birds for three dollars to a bird 
store. — H. K., Missouri. 

ATTRACTING ATTENTION. Please to 

send some literature to address of gentleman 
enclosed, descriptive of the squab business, 
and give him prices on same. I have been 
talking with him in regard to the business and 
as he has a couple of farms over in Michigan, 
I have no doubt but what he will make an 
investment. 

The pigeons that I purchased of you last 
spring are doing very nicely. Our pen is 
attracting considerable attention. We have 
about 75 in it now and we are about to build 
larger accommodations. — T. T., Illinois. 

ENLARGING PLANT. Will you kindly 
advise the address of party who purchases 
pigeon manure? 

My birds are getting along ver>' nicely. 
Intend putting up a large house for them in 
the near future and will write you later regard- 
ing wire for flies. — B. T., New York. 

SWAMPED WITH SQUAB ORDERS. It 

is impossible for me to fill the orders that I 
have for squabs. I am sending you an order. 
Please get them out as soon as possible. 
When I receive them, I will order another 
dozen Extras. I now have about 350 pair of 
breeders. They are doing fine. — H. S., 
Louisiana. 

SATISFIED WITH ALL. I received the 
two baskets containing 36 birds on Thursday. 
Pardon delay in not answering sooner, as I 
was out of town. I am perfectly satisfied 
with all the birds I bought of you and hope to 
be able in the future to secure more. Am 
shipping the two baskets this morning by 
National express, homeward bound. — J. W., 
New York. 

GOOD REPORT. Please find enclosed a 
money order for which please ship me 12 pair 
pigeons as I saw some birds which you shipped 
to Mr. Walter of this town. I received a 
booklet from your firm some time ago but did 
not order birds until I saw Mr. Walter report 
on his. I decided to give you an order if 
3'ou can send me mixed colors. Ship via 
Adams express. Wishing you success. — L. D., 
Pennsylvania. 

ONE YEAR'S GOOD TRIAL. Quote me 
prices on your No. 1 Homers. Those I 
bought of you one year ago are doing nicely. 
— C. M. R., Pennsylvania. 



THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY ONE 
OF OUR CUSTOMERS TO HIS FRIEND IN 
A NEIGHBORING TOWN. I am pleased 
to know that you are getting along so nicely 
with your squab house. Wish you could see 
the last consignment of birds I received from 
the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. of Boston. 
They are beauties, and they commenced 
building their nests the second day after they 
arrived. I have no idea where you are going 
to purchase your birds but I certainly think 
you will make no mistake if you get them 
from Mr. Rice, for the ones he sent me are 
the finest I ever saw. 

I am confident if you buy your birds of Mr. 
Rice he will use you right for he has done the 
right thing by me. — F. B., New York. 

WANTS 500 PAIRS IN THE SPRING. My 

pigeons are doing very well but they are 
shedding a great many feathers. I want to 
make arrangements early in the spring for 
500 pairs of your best stock, btit before build- 
ing my houses I want to take a trip to Melrose 
and look your plant over, in order to get all 
the ideas about construction, maintenance, 
etc. I enclose separate slip with a few 
questions that I would like to have you answer 
if it is not too much trouble. — J. W., North 
Carolina. 

LOST ONLY ONE BIRD, AND THAT BY 
ACCIDENT. I recently bought a few pairs 
of birds that you sold to a gentleman in this 
city about March 1st. He was moving to St. 
Louis and had to dispose of the birds. With 
what I got from you and the seven pairs I 
bought from him I now have 65 birds. Have 
never lost but one bird and that was my own 
fault for I was experimenting on it and accident- 
ally killed it. I have a market in St. Louis for 
all I can ship at $4.00 per dozen. If not ask- 
ing too much would yovi kindly give me the 
address of a couple of Chicago and New York 
commission men that handle squabs. — W. E. 
T., Missoiu-i. 

STARTED WELL. I write you in regard 
to the pigeons you will remember we bought 
of you (24 pairs) about two years ago this 
month. Our Homers have done very nicely. 
I have about 200 pairs. We sold 40 pairs 
last year. We have quite a nice little plant 
started. — A. C, Wisconsin. 

DOING WELL, GOING TO BUILD. Please 

send me a plan for your miiltiple unit house. 
My pigeons are doing fine. — D. B., Illinois. 

STARTED IN TO MAKE REFORMS. 

Please find enclosed check for nine dollars 



Somebody handling the small, stunted Homers may tell you that eight pounds to the 
dozen is good weight for squabs and that squabs are not bred to weigh more from Homers. 
That is true, from his Homers. In these pages you will find that eight pounds is low for 
Plymouth Rock Homer squabs. 

162 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



lor which kindly send us one dozen drinking 
fou-ntains. We would like you to get these 
off as soon as possible. 

I was very much pleased with my visit to 
your plant at Melrose which I made yesterday, 
especially with your facilities for mating 
birds up. Got some new ideas along with a 
lot of good advice from your superintendent, 
and to-day have started in to make a few 
new reforms here. — T. H. D., Connecticut. 

KNOWS PLYMOUTH ROCKS BY EX- 
PERIENCE. I saw your advertisement of 
Homer Pigeons in a magazine. I would like 
very much for your company to send me one 
of your catalogues, and how much you charge 
for Homers a pair. I know from experience 
that a Plymouth Rock Homer is a good 
breeder. A friend of mine got some from 
your people a short time ago, but I did not 
inquire as to the price of them. In answer 
to letter from you, I will send for some, and 
if they are satisfactory, I will be glad to get 
more, as I am a great pigeon fancier. — W. 
A., Illinois. 

ONE YEAR'S SATISFACTION. Send one 
bushel of Kaffir com and one bushel of Canada 
peas to me. It may interest you to know that 
the birds I bought from you a year ago are in 
every way satisfactory. I have doubled the 
number of workers in that time and have had 
all I wanted for my own table, and sold quite a 
number. — J. B. H., Massachusetts. 

SOME WEIGH 14 OUNCES WHEN 15 
DAYS OLD. I received your pigeons in May 
when I was in Longueuil. They have done 
well, as I have had some which weigh 14 
ounces at 15 days old. What do you think 
of a mirror in my squab house? I will be 
very pleased to receive all your advertising 
booklets. — G. C, Canada. 

SUNFLOWER SEEDS ARE GOOD. Your 
book doesn't say anything about feeding 
pigeons sunflower seeds. Will they eat them 
or isn't it good for them to have them ? Please 
let me know. The pigeons I got from you are 
doing pretty well, I think. I may get more 
next year. — B. J., Vermont. 

Answer. Sunflower seeds are a good pigeon 
food and are used by many of our customers. 
They are rich and oily and should not be fed 
in excess, but as a dainty. A good way to 
feed them is to throw the whole head in front 
of the birds and let them pick out the seeds 
themselves with their bills. 

BREED WELL IN CALIFORNIA. En- 

closed find money order for 40 cents for which 



kindly send me two feet of your alumintun 
tubing for bands. Also send one of your 
price lists, as mine has been mislaid. 
Twenty-foiu- pairs of Homers purchased of 
you one year ago are doing fine. Flock now 
numbers 150. — W. J. M., California. 

CONTINUOUS SATISFACTION. Enclosed 
find check which is to cover enclosed order. 
All the birds which you have sent me so far 
are very satisfactory. — G. S., New York. 

FINEST BIRDS AROUND. Your birds I 
bought of you a year ago are going fine — the 
finest birds around, so my friends say. — Mrs. 
J. J. M., Massachusetts. 

HOTEL KEEPER RAISING HIS TABLE 
SQUABS. Am very glad to know that you 
were pleased with our menus and will con- 
tinue mailing them to you from time to time 
if you do not object. I hope that the temp- 
tation will be strong enough to cause you to 
come to our city and look over our squab 
farm. I have been quite successful and have 
a fine lot of birds. It is more than likelj', 
however, that I shall want some additional 
birds in the very near future. I would like a 
few show Homers, Dragoons and Runts' 
For squab raising purposes, I could not ask 
anything better than I now have. Will mail 
you an order for supplies in a few days. — W. 
S., Georgia. 

BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY BIRDS. Will you 
please quote me the price of your wicker 
shipping baskets, size for 12 pairs, or kindly 
forward me the address of the manufacturers 
of same. Also state in your letter if the drop- 
pings must be entirely free from straw and 
feathers, or reasonably so, to satisfy the pur- 
chasers at the tanneries. The six pairs I pur- 
chased of you two years ago have increased to 
150 or 170, besides what I have killed, and the 
stock has proven entirely satisfactory in every 
way. I have taken pains to follow your 
instructions to the letter so now I have the 
above number of beautiful, healthv birds. — ■ 
W. H. Y., New York. 

Answer. It is impossible to get all straw 
and feathers entirely out of the manure. 
Sweep out what you can with a broom before 
cleaning the squab-house. The leather peo- 
ple do not care if some straw and feathers get 
in but they do not want gravel and tobacco 
stems. The latter discolor and stain when 
wet. 

BIRDS THAT FLY AWAY. On about 
April 20, 1905, we bought of you six Plymouth 
Rock Homer pigeons. Since then they have 



For six years we have had a complete monopoly of the fine trade of che United States. We 
sell more Homers every year than all other firms and breeders combined. The reason for this 
is that our birds demonstrate their value and make friends wherever they go. This supremacy 
we intend to maintain. 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



done exceedingly well, and we have got a 
pretty good start in pigeons now, but what 
I write you to-day for is this. ■ This morning 
at 9 o'clock one of the birds we got of you got 
out of the flying pen. She flew into the air and 
started for Boston. This was a brown bird, 
and we thought she might arrive at her 
destination, so I wish you to keep a lookout 
for her and see if you can tell if she gets there. 
If she does arrive, would you mind letting me 
know" I am anxious to know if she gets 
there. This was a female bird and she left 
a young bird about a vs^eek old in the nest. — 
R. H.. Iowa. 

Answer. No Homer would fly that dis- 
tance. We receive many letters like the 
above. Customers should watch the doors 
of squab-house and pens and not let their 
birds get away. 

LARGE, HEAVY AND FULL-BREASTED. 

Enclosed find money order for one more 
dozen pairs of your Extra Plymouth Rock 
Homers. 

I did not rush a letter down to you the 
same afternoon I received the other birds for 
the reason that I wanted to tr\' them out 
first. The dozen pair of Plymouth Rocks, 
on their arrival weighed exactly 22 pounds, 
while a few days later I received another 
dozen pair from another company and they 
.weighed only 17 pounds. They were not 
full-breasted like your bii-ds. 

I received first shipment on the 2nd of 
March. They are now working like good 
fellows. Have three nests with eggs in. 

You will hear from me occasionally with 
further orders. — ^A. P. S., Michigan. 

WANTS TO BUY SOME GOOD ONES. 

Kindly send your catalogue and any other 
printed matter you have about pigeons. An 
acquaintance wants to buy some good birds 
and he is going to look at my lot that I 
received last Thursday. I feel sure I can 
land him as a customer for you. — H. D. C., 
Pennsylvania. 

GOING SLOWLY. Please send free book, 
"How to Make Money with Squabs." The 
birds bought of you are doing well now and 
some of their yoving are hatching. Have 
enough now to ship a dozen a month now. — 
W. M., Mar^dand. 

JUST THE BIRDS. I thought I would 
let you know how my birds are getting along. 
They arrived on Tuesday, May 1st, as I wrote 
you. Thursday of the same week one pair 
had commenced to huild. At this writing 
four pairs have eggs. The others are build- 
ing. That is what I call going right to work. 



I am very much pleased with them. There 
was a party here this morning looking at 
them. He talks of putting in one himdred 
pair, and says they are just the birds that he 
wants. He is coming up to see yoior plant. 
Of course I showed him my birds and told 
him just what they were doing and where 
they came from so I think he will be a cus- 
tomer for you. I shall advertise the Plymouth 
Rock birds wherever I have a chance. Thank 
you for your kindness. — J. C, New Jersey. 

SQUABS WEIGHING ONE POUND APIECE 
WHEN ONE MONTH OLD. I received my 
pigeons from you April 20, 1905. I have one 
pair that has hatched eleven (11) times up to 
the 22nd day of April, 1906, so you can see 
that they have haci fairly good care. I now 
have 110 birds and am getting them fast no^w 
and will commence shipping when I get 70 
or 80 pairs. I have weighed a number of 
birds four weeks old that weighed 16 ounces 
and I think that is very good. — L. F., Iowa. 

QUICKLY AT WORK. Please pardon my 
delay in acknowledging the receipt (right 
side up) of the pigeons you shipped to me at 
Harpers Ferry, W. Va., which place I left 
before the shipm.ent arrived. ]\Iy wife 
informed me that they were all in good shape 
and the finest specimens she ever saw. Also 
thought the3^ had returned the baskets to you. 
As soon as I go home, which will be in a few 
days, will send you another order. My wife's 
third letter tells me that 16 pairs out of the 18 
have gone to setting. Don't think you can 
beat that at home. We have ever\'thing good 
to feed them, peas, kaffir com, wheat and 
millet, and we intend to make a success of 
the business. — W. S., Virginia. 

SQUABS HAVE AVERAGED ONE POUND 
APIECE. Enclosed please find certified 
check for §173.98 for which kindly send me 
birds and suppUes as enclosed. Kindly send 
the shipment of birds as soon as possible as 
I would like to receive them before Tuesday. 
All my birds are doing nicely. My squabs, 
imder your system of feeding, have averaged 
a pound apiece and I expect from the present 
outlook of things to make them average a 
good deal more. — E. H. M., Pennsylvania. 

THIS WOMAN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA 
KNOWS WHAT A FINE HOMER IS. A 

week ago I wrote you complaining of non- 
acknowledgment of my remittance sent in 
with my order. As I was beginning to 
Avonder if it had miscarried, I am pleased to 
be able to inform you that I received the best 
possible answer to my letter in arrival of 
the birds I ordered from you. They arrived 



The equipment at our farm for mating birds cost $2000 and no expense was spared to 
rnake it perfect. A thousand mating coops are in constant use. The principal mating house 
IS heated by hot water so as to get the best and quickest results in the cold months. 



164 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



about the same time as your letter (May 1st). 
All of them are in first-class condition and I 
am very pleased with them, as I consider 
that they are a fine lot of birds, and I think I 
know what a fine Homer is when I see it, as 
my father and brothers have bred and sold 
trained flying Homers for years in Lancashire, 
England, some of them worth twenty-five 
dollars a pair. Although I never heard of 
squab raising before I came to Canada three 
years ago, when I first saw your book adver- 
tised in Munsey's I thought it was some kind 
of game bird reared in captivity, and sent for 
your book more out of curiosity than any- 
thing else. I think I shall like the business 
very much and shall probably be sending 
another order in a month or two when I see 
how I go on with the birds I have got. Thank 
you very much for the two pairs extra you 
sent, also nest bowls. They were a very 
agreeable surprise to me as I did not expect 
anything like that on such a small order. 
The express charges were six dollars, and 25 
cents dutv on nest bowls. If you would 
write me from time to time giving me your 
prices I shall be much obliged. — Mrs A. R., 
Canada. 

SQUABS WEIGHING FROM 13 TO 16 
OUNCES. Please send me at your earliest 
convenience the names of reliable merchants 
to whom I can ship squabs, in New York. 
The 80 pairs I bought of vou last fall are doing 
well. I sold squabs that weighed from 13 
ounces to almost one pound apiece. I have 
over ICO pairs of young ones that I am sav- 
ing for stock. — H. J., Ohio. 

WORTH THEIR PRICE. Some time ago 
I sent you an order for three pairs No. 1 and 
three pairs Extra Homers, stating that I 
wished to compare with Homers a friend of 
mine was ordering at a very much lower 
figure. In a word, after due comparison, I 
order six more pairs Extras. Please send me 
fine birds. — C. J., Illinois. 

SQUABS WEIGHING 16 TO 17 OUNCES 
EACH. Please find enclosed remittance for 
which send me 12 pairs and supplies noted. 
The dozen pairs you sent me started into do 
business last month, having been moulting up 
to that time. The first two pairs squabs 
hatched, at one month old, weighed one pound 
each, with one that was 17 ounces. That is 
very good, is it not ? I am well pleased with 
them. Make this dozen as good and I shall 
be more pleased. — C. B. G., Connecticut. 

HIS FOURTH ORDER. Enclosed you will 
please find money order for which you will 
please send me as soon as possible one dozen 



pairs Extra bred Homers (fourth order.) — L 
C, Louisiana. 

SUPERIOR IN LOOKS AND WORKS. 

The birds (60 pairs) arrived on the late train 
from_ St. Paul on Sunday night last, and 
remained in the depot here until early on the 
following morning when we took them home. 
Outside of the injured ones mentioned, I will 
say that the birds arrived in perfect condition 
and are fully up to Avhat we expected them to 
be. They are now " at home " and present 
a beautiful appearance. The birds which you 
sent me last November (nine months ago) are 
entirely satisfactory, and " out-class " any 

I received from the or those which my 

friend here received from the same people. 
Mine are plump, his are " cranish," long-legged 
and long-necked. I would not keep that kind 
of birds. My friend has not accommodations 
for pigeons, and wanted to sell out. A doctor 
who for several years rented offices in my law 
office building here, looked them over with the 
view of purchasing the outfit, and I advised 
him to do so, to get a start in the business. 
He visited my lofts, and saw my birds, wanted 
to buy some from me, and after he saw mine, 
he would not buy of my friend. I gave him 
your address, but have not seen him since, 
and do not know whether he has made a pur- 
chase or not. I have none to sell at this time 
as we are tr^dng^ to increase the flock to at 
least 1200, for which we have ample accommo- 
dations, then we will begin to sell. 

There is no mistake in saying that the birds 
which I received from you, out-class those 

which the have sent here. If your 

Mr. Rice should ever come to this country I 
would be pleased to have him stay with me 
and look over the " greatest " farming coun- 
try on earth. 

My elder boy (17 years of age) visited the 
great Minnesota State Fair. Saw Dan Patch 
break his record, reducing it to 1.55 flat. He 
looked the pigeons over as a matter of course, 
and he tells me that he could find no Homers 
there which compared with ours. He intends 
to exhibit some at the fair next fall. — H. M.,- 
Minnesota. 

MADE A SUCCESS AND GOING AHEAD 
ON A BIG PLANT. I have a party that wants 
to go into the squab business with me, and it 
is possible that I will call on you during Nov- 
ember for 2000 breeders. I have done very 
well with the 800 I have, encouraging enough 
to put in quite an extensive plant. I would 
like to have your personal opinion as to 
whether 2000 birds will do as well in 20 ^iiiits of 
100 birds each with one fly 12x48x200 as they 
would in 20 vmitswith 20 flies 10x12x48. On 



Our whole time and energies are given to squabs. We handle trade as it ought to be 
handled — promptly, courteously and thoroughly, with every detail attended to. Letters are 
answered at once. It is a business with us, pushed steadily every day in the year except Sun- 
days and holidays, and not a side issue or an amusement. 

165 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



account of labor I would prefer the one large 
fly, but I want no experiments and leave the 
matter with you. I can get $4.00 per dozen 
for a large portion of my squabs, and would 
like to have an opinion as to what 5000 of 
yo-ur breeders would net us ^'■early when we 
raise our own feed on the farm. 

WE SUPPLY HENS TO THOSE WHO 
NEED THEM. After recommending your 
firm to A. F. Kennelley of this city and he 
being a purchaser from you recently, I find 
that he is well pleased with treatment accord- 
ed him. Enclosed please find $5.00 for five 
female birds to be used as breeders. I bought 
some birds from a friend of mine and he had 
five odd cocks which I want to mate up. 
You will forward these by first express to my 
address.— H. E. W., Ohio., 

BEST BIRDS HE EVER SAW. The 

Homers ordered from you reached m.e in due 
time and in excellent condition. They 
certainly are the finest birds I ever saw. I 
really believe they are a finer lot than the 
first consignment, if that be possible. The 
second day after their arrival they commenced 
building their nests, which I imagine is a 
pretty good record. 

Some of my friends have secured birds from 
other parties and although I have not seen 
their birds, I am confident they can't tell me 
that they have a finer lot than mine. 

If I have an opportunity of securing you 
any customers I shall be onlv too glad to do 
so. — B. Y., New York. 

BEST HOMERS IN CALIFORNIA. Birds 
received in Al condition. Your birds have 
stirred up quite some interest here and what I 
hear from people who know is that your birds 
are the best in the colony. As it is I arn well 
pleased with the bunch. I have a house 
12 X 32 feet divided into four pens 8x9 feet 
with a three-foot passage running the length 
and everything up to date. That also has 
opened their eyes in the building and arrange- 
ments in an up-to-date squab house. I have 
had the birds less than a week and am pretty 
well advertised already. The market here 
is strong at $3.00 to $3.50 and the demand 
far exceeds the supply. — C. H., California. 

SOLD YOUNGSTERS FOR $2 A PAIR IN 
KANSAS. Enclosed find remittance for one 
leg band outfit. My pigeons have been doing 
fine, and are keeping busy all the time. Have 
sold ofi^ the young pigeons at eight weeks old 
for $2.00 per pair. What is the difference in 
Canada peas and the peas we raise here? 
Will the common peas do to feed to the 
pigeons' — G. W. S., Kansas. 



LATEST NEWS FROM THE NEW YORK 
MARKET; HIGH PRICES WHICH ARE 
GOING HIGHER BECAUSE OF THE NEW 
LAW FORBIDDING ENTIRELY THE SALE 
OF QUALL EXCEPT IN NOVEMBER AND 
DECEMBER. I take the liberty of asking 
you for a Uttle more advice for the birds I 
bought from you last Novem.ber. Of sick- 
ness I have not seen any sign of it. I lost only 
two of them, one of apoplexy I think, because 
it fell like shot dead, the other one died of 
diarrhoea. Of the young squabs, the cas- 
ualties have been a little higher, but out of 
50 I did not lose more than six, or 12 per 100. 

Now I wish you would give me your 
opinion how I have progressed, if I am on the 
regular average or if I am imder it. 

The prices for squabs on the New York 
market have been very high all winter — have 
reached as high as $6.50 a dozen for squabs 
of over 10 pound a dozen, and $4.50 for birds 
of near eight pound or so. Of course private 
trade is better and I have been able to sell 
squabs for 50 cents apiece easily. 

I have a set of birds that give me three 
eggs and have hatched them successfully 
with three days late for the extra one. Does 
that happen often? — H. G., New York. 

WILL NOT BUY ANY HftMERS BUT 
PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Last May I ordered 
from you twelve Plymouth Rock Homers. 
They arrived on the eighth of May and on the 
twelfth of the same month the first egg was 
laid. Five pairs of them went to work almost 
immediately and have been at work ever 
since. I raised the squabs during the sirmmer. 
I have now 13 pairs of mature pigeons. Twelve 
pairs work constantly and I am- ver\* much 
pleased with them and want to thank you 
for them and as you are so kind as to offer to 
answer questions and to help we people who 
do not know all abotit raising squabs I shall 
be so much obhged if you will give me a little 
help. My present ambition is to increase my 
plant. I want to buy some Extras from you 
as soon as I can raise the capital. I can buy 
Homers nearer home but yours have done so 
well for me that whatever new stock I get I 
would like to get from you. You say in "your 
book that you will give your patrons the 
address of a good New York buyer. Will you 
please send me the address' — C. O., New 
Jersey. 

BRANCHING OUT. Please quote me your 
best figures on the following: Homer pigeons 
in pairs ready to go to work in lots of 20, 50 
and 100 pair lots. Hempseed in bushel lots. 
Health grit in 100 pound lots. I have yotir 
prices of last year but presume there are some 
changes. I purchased 12 pairs of Homers 
from you last spring and they raised me about 



These are strong letters. Read them over. You want some assurance, when you buy 
pigeons, that you will be treated right, as these customers were. 

166 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



60 young ones by the first of November. — 
R. W. H., Iowa. 

BLOOD AND HIGH BREEDING COUNT. 

Enclosed find di-aft for which you will send 
by Pacific express, Extra Homers, as per 
memorandum. Several weeks ago I ordered 

15 pairs of . When the birds came I did not 

think they were much more than common 
birds. A friend in our town wanted some 
breeders and I got him to try your birds. 
They came last night. There is a big differ- 
ence between the birds. My first birds do 
not show any white on bill to amount to any- 
thing and they are most all white or very 
light color. Yours show their high breeding. 
Blood teUs, when you put them together. I 
sold mine at half price to-day to get shut of 
them. What I want is blooded stock or 
nothing. Please send me a good collection 
of assorted colors, blues, reds and checkers. 
I ordered one of your squab books some time 
ago and I think it the best I ever read on 
pigeons. — J. A., Missouri. 

TRIFLING DEATH LOSSES. In January 
of this year I purchased 12 pairs of your 
Extras. They are now (April) in fine condi- 
tion and have hatched out 24 young ones, 22 
of which are living and doing fine. — ^W. J., 
Massachusetts. 

SEVEN PAIRS WORTH $25, THIS 
ARKANSAS CUSTOMER THINKS. Writing 
you a few lines to let you know that I got the 
pigeons all O.K. They were all well. I got 
them two weeks to-day and out of the seven 
pairs, fovir pairs of them have built and are 
setting on eggs already. I would have 
written you sooner but wanted to see what 
they were going to do. I would not take 
$25 for the seven pairs. Sending the basket 
back this evening with the letter. You can 
put this letter on your list. I think it is the 
only one from Arkansas. — C. W., Arkansas. 

GOOD SHOWING AFTER THEIR 3000- 
MILE JOURNEY. Enclosed please find Wells 
Fargo Express money order for $1.70 for which 
please send me by mail post paid, one leg 
band outfit at your very earliest convenience. 
My birds received from you March 17 are 
doing fine. They got right to work and one 
month from the day I received them I had 
three pairs of squabs hatch. Since then one 
more pair has hatched and two more pairs are 
setting and two pairs building. I think that 
is a pretty good showing in six weeks for 10 
pairs after travelling 3000 miles. I lost one 
hen. She got sick and I could not find what 
was the trouble. She did not have diarrhoea, 
but just seemed to droop and die. The 
remainder of them are as fine as could be. 



Will you please quote me prices on nine pair 
Extra Homers to be delivered in June or July. 
Cannot tell yet just when I will be ready for 
them, but either June or July sure. Best 
wishes for your continued success. — E. M., 
California. 

ARKANSAS CUSTOMER IS PLEASED 
WITH SQUARENESS. I received your Man- 
ual a day after I wrote that letter, and I 
received another one. I have sold both of 
them, and find enclosed $1.00 to pay for your 
extra one and another one for myself. You 
people treated me so well I won't buy any 
Homers from anybody else. I was surprised 
at your squareness and have told every one 
about it and got them all a-going in the right 
direction. I was very, very much pleased 
with your Manual. — G. R., Arkansas. 

HIS MONEY TALKS FOR HIM. Last 

August I purchased 124 pairs of your Extras 
and am now in the market for about 375 pairs 
more. I am also in need of some extra hens 
of the same quality. Can you supply same? 
Also let me know if you can f-umish these birds 
in pairs in the following colors: blues, blue 
checkers and red checkers in any number I 
may desire. Please state your very lowest 
price on above number of pairs. Let me hear 
from you by return mail, as I am in a great 
rush for the birds. — S. T., Indiana. 

CANNOT SAY TOO MUCH IN PRAISE OF 
OUR HEALTH GRIT. Enclosed find $2.00 
for 100 pounds of health grit. I find this grit 
the best on the market for pigeons. I cannot 
say too much for it as it keeps the pigeons in 
fine health. Although the price is high I 
would never be without it. I have quite a 
few people that want to get this grit from me. 
Can you let me have it cheaper, so that I can 
make something out of it? Answer and let 
me know. — R. O,, New Jersey. 

BIG SQUAB FARM WHOSE OWNER 
BOUGHT HIS BREEDERS OF US. I visited 
a squab farm last Sunday and before I left 
found that the owner bought his breeders of 
your company, five hundred pairs. He has 
1100 pairs at present and is making a fortune. 
After seeing this farm I was more than con- 
vinced that the Plymouth Rock Squab Co. 
is O. K. If I get as good a lot of birds as 
he has I certainly will be pleased. 

I am sorry that I did not figure on handling 
more birds than I did. Have built house to 
accommodate 100 birds. Enclosed find stamps 
for which please send plans and specifications 
for squab houses. No doubt you will receive 
a larger order from me in a short time. Will 
notify you in a few days when to ship birds. 



Beware of anybody who tries to make a sale to you by running down the Plymouth Rock 
Squab Co. Insist that he show you letters like these in proof of his claims. 



1906 LETTERS FROM CUSTOMERS 1906 

STORIES OF SUCCESS ON THIS PAGE ARE NEW. THEY WERE RECEIVED BY 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB COMPANY OF BOSTON IN NINE MONTHS OF 1906. 



I want to have everything complete before I 
have them shipped. — I. S., New York. 

HAS TRIED THEM AND KNOWS. I am 

at present debating with myself and with 
some of my relations in regard to starting in 
the pigeon business. My folks are trying to 
persuade me that it is going to cost too much 
to start, and that I will not realize any great 
profits very soon. As I see, and at the best 
I can figure it out, it will take about $100 to 
start in with fifty pairs of breeders and build a 
home to accommodate them, getting the price 
of building down as low as possible with lum- 
ber at its present price. What I want to 
know is, do you think it would pay me to start 
and about how long do you think it would 
take to get back the amount paid out if I 
relied entirely on the birds ? 

I think I could get it back in four months 
at the most, because I have three pairs I pur- 
chased of you in January, besides the young 
ones I have raised. I have watched and studied 
their ways and know something about them. 
I know how fast they breed, etc. Now am I 
right in my estimation as to the time it would 
take to regain my money and would you 
advise me to start if possible ''. My birds I 
have now are doing fine. — S. A., Massachusetts. 

MANURE FOR SALE. Will you please 
give me the address of some firm to which I 
can sell my pigeon manure? My pigeons are 
doing well this spring. — T. O., New York. 

RHODE ISLAND SUCCESS. I am enclos- 
ing money order for which kindly send me 
enclosed supplies. If this money order does 
not cover cost do not delay the grain but 
send me bill for extra. Mv birds are all doing 
finely.— B. O., Rhode Island. 

THIS IS THE KIND OF PLAIN TALK ONE 
LIKES TO HEAR. I am finding out for my- 
self if there was money in squabs and I have 
foimd it to be true by other squab breeders. 
I was to a man's place this afternoon and he 
said he had no trouble in selling his squabs 
for a good price. I guess the only trouble 
is people are sleeping half the time. That's 
why they don't know much about squab 
breeding. If a fellow doesn't believe in squab 
breeding, all he has to do is to open his eyes 
and look around. I've been to a couple of 
bird shows and have seen nothing to go ahead 
of your birds yet. Mv friend was saying what 
nice birds they had at the show, and I thought 
I would go down with him. We had to pay 
25 cents to get in. After we looked at the 
birds, he said that mine would get the first 
prize if I would take them down. Then I 
found out that I have some of the biggest birds 



in town. I would like to get some pictures 
taken and show you some of the birds I got 
from yours. I found your book to be a book 
anybody can read and knows what he is read- 
ing about. Everything is so plain — what a 
beginner wants to know about breeding birds. 
I was thinking of sending you my third order. 
If I do, it will be next week. Hoping you are 
doing a good business. My birds are doing 
fine. Your birds are the best breeders and I 
won't take any others. — S. C. H., Wisconsin. 

NEST BOWLS ALL RIGHT. Please find 
a money order for one dozen more of your nest 
bowls. They are O. K. Put them in the 
house one evening and on going in the next 
found that a pair had already taken posses- 
sion and started a nest. Have 11 pair setting 
on eggs and they are doing fine. I intend to 
purchase more from you later as I am going 
to build a unit to start this spring and enclose 
money for your plans for squab houses. 
Wishing you every success. — W. A., Massa- 
chusetts. 

ENLARGING. Enclosed find check for 
which please send me seven pairs of your 
Extra Homers and one dozen fibre nests. 
Send by American express. This time I 
would like to have different colored birds. 
The birds and supplies you sent me in Janu- 
ary came in good shape. I was well pleased 
with same. Am thinking some of putting in 
50 or 100 pairs more this summer if I can 
arrange for another house. — H. B., Indiana. 

BEST EVER SEEN IN OKLAHOMA. 

Enclosed please find money order for which 
send me your best Extra Hoiners as specified. 
Send all blue-speckled birds, as shown on 
right of special offer sheet. Your last ship- 
ment of birds are fine ones and- every one that 
has seen them say they are the finest they ever 
saw. Trusting these will be the same or 
better and that I may receive them at your 
earliest convenience. — W. H., Oklahoma. 

BUYING MORE AFTER ONE YEAR'S 
EXPERIENCE. A little over a year ago, I 
bought 24 pairs of your pigeons. Now I wish 
to buy 300 pairs of yotu Extra Plymouth 
Rock Homers and am fixing a house for them 
and will be in shape to receive 75 pairs a 
month, say March 1, April 1, May 1 and June 
1. I see that $1.70 per pair is your price in 
lots of 300 pairs and upwards. I should 
want the best birds as I believe they are the 
cheapest. Now if this arrangement is all 
right, you can let me know and I will send 
you $127.50 for the first 75 pairs. I want 
your best birds. — E. F., Ohio. 



Is there anybody in your town who has failed at squab raising? Some play at pigeons 
as they would with a new toy, then give them up. If they bought of us the trouble is with 
them and not with the pigeons. 

168 



1 1907 



